Author: Poems and Fancies Research Assistant

With numeration moralists begin
Upon the passions, putting quotients in,
Numbers divide with figures, and subtract,
And in their definitions are exact.
As for subtracting, take but one from three;¹            5
Add it to four, and it makes² five to be.

³

Cut the line of Wisdom into three parts: Prudence, Experience, and Judgment. Then draw a line of Discretion equal to the line of Experience, and a line of Industry equal to the line of Prudence, and a line of Temperance equal to the line of Judgment; and to Temperance an equal line of Tranquility, and to the line Industry a line of Ingenuity, and to the line of Discretion draw an equal line of Obedience. Then all these lines measured with the rule of Reason, you’ll find them⁴ equal to the line of Wisdom. Join these lines⁵ together, and let Truth make⁶ the angle. This is the Trisection. ⁷

^{8  9}
A circle is a line without ends, and a square hath¹⁰ four equal sides, not one longer or shorter than another. To square the circle is to make the square figure¹¹ to be equal with the round figure. Honesty is the¹² circle without ends, that is,¹³ by-respects, for an honest man is honest¹⁴ for honesty’s sake. But¹⁵ to square this circle is¹⁶ very difficult, for it is hard¹⁷ for Honesty to take part with four sides without Faction. For where there is siding there is¹⁸ Faction; and where Faction is,¹⁹ there is Partiality; and where Partiality is, there is Injustice; and where Injustice is, there is Wrong;²⁰ and where Wrong is, Truth is not; and where Truth is not, Honesty cares not to live.

But let us see how we can square this circle of Honesty. First, draw four lines: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice. These four lines, let them be cross parallels,²¹ to make a square,²² and at each end of every line make a point. At²³ the line of Justice, a point of Severity at one end and another of Facility at the other end. And at either²⁴ end of Fortitude, one of Rashness and another of Timorosity. And at each²⁵ end of Temperance, Prodigality and Covetousness. At each end of Prudence, Sloth and Stupidity. Then draw out these points and make them angles: as Severity and Timorosity make one²⁶ angle, Rashness and Stupidity another. Sloth and Prodigality make a third angle;²⁷ Facility and Covetousness make the fourth.²⁸

Then exactly in the midst of either line, set on²⁹ either³⁰ side of the line a figure: as Distributive on the outside of the line of Justice, and Communicative within the line. So on the line³¹ of Fortitude, Despair on the outside and Love within. On Prudence line, Experience on the outside³² and Industry within. On Temperance³³ line, Observation on the outside and Ease within.

Then draw a line of Charity³⁴ from the point Distribution, and from the point of Observation³⁵ a Line of Discretion, and make an angle of³⁶ Hope. Then from Community³⁷ a line of Clemency,³⁸ and from the point of Ease³⁹ a line of Comfort, which make an angle of Peace. Then from Despair a line of Hope, and from Industry a line of Fruition, which make an angle of Tranquility. Then from the point of Love a line of Faith, and from the point of Ease a Line of Pleasure; this makes an angle of Joy. Then set a point at every angle, viz.,⁴⁰ Obedience, Humility, Respect, and Reverence. And thus the square measured with truth will⁴¹ be equal with the circle of Honesty.

³⁰

Within the head of man’s a circle round
Of Honesty, in which no end⁴² is found.
Some think it fit this circle should be squared,⁴³
Though to make Honesty take sides is hard.⁴⁴
Prudence and Temperance as two lines⁴⁵ take;                 5
With Fortitude and Justice, four will⁴⁶ make.
If Temperance do prove too short a line,⁴⁷
Then do the figure of Discretion join;⁴⁸
Let⁴⁹ Wisdom’s point draw up Discretion’s figure,⁵⁰
That make two equal lines joined both together.⁵¹         10
Betwixt the line Temperance and Justice,⁵² Truth must point;
Justice’s line draw down to Fortitude,⁵³ that corner joint.
Of Fortitude, which line do make agree⁵⁴
With Prudence; Temperance must also be⁵⁵
Of equal length with Justice; both must stand⁵⁶               15
’Twixt Fortitude and Prudence on each hand.⁵⁷
At every corner must a point be laid,
Where every line that meets, an angle’s made.⁵⁸
And when those⁵⁹ points too high or low do fall,
Then must the lines be stretched, to make them⁶⁰ all      20
Even. And⁶¹ thus the circle round, you’ll find,
Is squared with the four virtues of the mind.

⁶²
And others did,⁶³ upon the same account,
Doubling the cube, to a great number⁶⁴ mount.
But some the triangles did⁶⁵ cut so small,
’Till into equal atoms they did fall.⁶⁶
For such is man’s curiosity and mind,                   5
To seek for that which hardest is to find.

A circle round divided in four parts
Hath been great⁶⁷ study amongst⁶⁸ men of arts;
Since Archimede’s or Euclid’s time, each brain⁶⁹
Hath on a line been stretched, yet all in vain,⁷⁰
And every thought hath been a figure set;                           5
Doubts cyphers were, hopes as triangles met;⁷¹
There was⁷² division and subtraction made,
And lines drawn out, and points exactly laid.
But none hath yet by demonstration found⁷³
The way by which to square a circle round.⁷⁴                      10
Thus⁷⁵ while the brain is round, no squares⁷⁶ will be:
While thoughts are in divisions,⁷⁷ no figures will agree.

⁷⁸

When I did write this book I took great pains,
For I did walk, and think, and break my brains.
My thoughts run out of breath, then down did⁷⁹ lie,
And panted⁸⁰ with short wind, like those that die.
When time had given ease and lent them⁸¹ strength,             5
Then up they’ll⁸² get and run another length.
Sometimes I kept my thoughts with a strict diet,⁸³
And made them fast with ease, and rest, and quiet,
That they might run again with swifter speed,
And by this course new fancies they could⁸⁴ breed.               10
But I do fear they’re not so good to please;
Yet⁸⁵ now they’re out, my brain is more at ease.