ese new-seen lights were greater once
By many thousand times then this our sphear
Wherein we live, 'twixt good and evil chance.
Which to my musing mind doth strange appear
If those large bodies then first shaped were.
For should so goodly things so soon decay?
Neither did last the full space of two year.
Wherefore I cannot deem that their first day
Of being, when to us they sent out shining ray.

79

But that they were created both of old,
And each in his due time did fair display
Themselves in radiant locks more bright then gold,
Or silver sheen purg'd from all drossie clay.
But how they could themselves in this array
Expose to humane sight, who did before
Lie hid, is that which well amazen may
The wisest man and puzzle evermore:
Yet my unwearied thoughts this search could not give o're.

80

Which when I'd exercis'd in long pursuit
To finden out what might the best agree
With warie reason, at last I did conclude
That there's no better probabilitie
Can be produc'd of that strange prodigie,
But that some mighty Planet that doth run
About some fixed starre in _Cassiopie_
As _Saturn_ paceth round about our Sun,
Unusuall light and bignesse by strange fate had wonne.

81

Which I conceive no gainer way is done
Then by the siezing of devouring fire
On that dark Orb, which 'fore but dimly shone
With borrowed light, not lightened entire,
But halfed like the Moon.
And while the busie flame did sieze throughout,
And search the bowels of the lowest mire
Of that _Saturnian_ Earth; a mist broke out,
And immense mounting smoke arose all round about.

82

Which being gilded with the piercing rayes
Of its own sun and every neighbour starre,
It soon appear'd with shining silver blaze,
And then gan first be seen of men from farre.
Besides that firie flame that was so narre
The Planets self, which greedily did eat
The wastning mold, did contribute a share
Unto this brightnesse; and what I conceit
Of this starre doth with that of _Ophiuchus_ sit.

83

And like I would adventure to pronounce
Of all the Comets that above the Moon,
Amidst the higher Planets rudely dance
In course perplex, but that from this rash doom
I'm bett off by their beards and tails farre strown
Along the skie, pointing still opposite
Unto