Page:Hudibras - Volume 2 (Butler, Nash, Bohn; 1859).djvu/71

CANTO III.] Like Idus and Calendæ Englisht The Quarter-days, by skilful linguist. And yet with canting, slight, and cheat, 'Twill serve their turn to do the feat; Make fools believe in their foreseeing Of things before they are in being; To swallow gudgeons ere they're catch'd, And count their chickens ere they're hatch'd, Make them the constellations prompt, And give 'em back their own accompt; But still the best to him that gives The best price for't, or best believes. Some towns and cities, some for brevity, Have cast the 'versal world's nativity, And made the infant stars confess, Like fools or children, what they please. Some calculate the hidden fates Of monkeys, puppy-dogs, and cats; Some running nags, and fighting-cocks, Some love, trade, law-suits, and the pox: Some take a measure of the lives Of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives; Make opposition, trine, and quartile, Tell who is barren, and who fertile; As if the planet's first aspect The tender infant did infect