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"Here is the true reason," said he, "and those even who maintain

other fancies are obliged to acknowledge it. Let them deny, if

they can, that there is a fatal conjunction of Jupiter and

Saturn. And when has it been said that influences propagate? And

would these gentlemen deny the existence of influences? Will they

say there are no planets? or will they say that they keep up

above, doing nothing, as so many pins in a pincushion? But that

which I cannot understand from these doctors is, that they

confess we are under so malign a conjunction, and then they tell

us, don't touch this, don't touch that, and you will be safe! as

if, in avoiding the material contact of terrestrial bodies, we

could prevent the virtual effect of celestial bodies. And such a

work in burning rags! Poor people! will you burn Jupiter? will

you burn Saturn?"