Plauto, the connynge and famous clerke, That well expert was in phylosophy, Doth right reherse upon natures werke, How that she werketh upon all wonderly, Bothe for to minysshe and to multeply, In sondry wyse by great dyreccyon After the maner with all the hole affeccyon. In my natyf language I wyl not opres, More of her werke, for it is obscure; Who wyl therof knowe all the perfeytnes In phylosophy he shall fynde it ryght sure, Whyche all the trouth can to hym discure. No man can attayne perfecte connynge But by longe stody and diligent lernynge. CAP. XXXV. OF THE HYE INFLUENCES OF THE SUPERNALL BODIES. The ryght hygh power natures naturyng, Nature made the bodyes above, In sundry wyse to take theyr workynge, That aboute the worlde naturallye do move, As by good reason the phylosophres prove, That the planettes and sterres instrumentes be To natures werkynge in every degre. God gave great vertue to the planettes all, And specially unto depured Phebus, To enlumyne the worlde ever in specyall; And than the mone, of her selfe tenebrus, Made lyght wyth the beames gaye and gorgyous Of the sunne, is fayre replendysshaunte, In the longe nyght wyth rayes radyaunte. By these twayne every thyng hath growynge; Bothe vegitatyfe and censatyve also, And also intellectyve wythout lesynge: No erthly thyng may have lyfe and go, But by the planettes that move to and fro; Whan that God set them in operacyon, He gave them vertue in dyvers facyon. Some hote and moyst, and some colde and dry; Some hote and drye, moyst and colde; Thus every one hath vertues sundry, As is made mencyon in the bokes olde. They shewe theyr power and werke many a folde; Man upon them hath his dysposycyon, By the naturate power of constellacyon. What shoulde I wryte more in thys matter hye, In my maternall tonge opprest wyth ignoraunce? For who that lyst to lerne astronomye, He shall fynde all fruytfull pleasaunce In the Latyn tonge by goodly ordenaunce; Wherfore of it I wyll no lenger tary, For fere from trouthe that I happen to vary. Of dame Astronomy I dyd take my lycence For to travayle to the toure of Chyvalry; For al my minde, wyth percyng influence, Was sette upon the most fayre lady La Bell Pucell, so muche ententyfly, That every daye I dyd thinke fyftene, Tyl I agayne had her swete person sene. To you experte in the seven scyence, Now al my maysters, I do me excuse If I offended by my great neclygence. This lytel werke yet do ye not refuse; I am but yonge, it is to me obtuse Of these maters to presume to endyte, But for my lernyng that I lyst to wryte.