they see Grow furious for the wagging of a straw And otherwile for lesse then that may be Some are more staid a little and will beare Apparent wrongs which to their face you doe But when they Lye they cannot brooke to heare That any should be bold to tell them so Another sort I know that blowes will take Put up the Lye and give men leave to say What words they please till spoile they seeke to make Of their estates And then they 'le kill and slay But of all Hacksters farre the fiercest are Our Cockrills of the game Sir Cupid's knights Who on their foolish Coxcombes often weare The Scarres they get in their Venerean-fights Take heede of these for you may pacifie The first by time The second will be pleas'd If you submit or else your words denie The third by satisfaction are appeal'd But he that for his Female takes offence Through Iealousy or madnesse rageth so That he accepteth of no recompence Till he hath wrought his Rivals overthrow Such Fury shun and shunne their Vulgar minde Who for base trash despitefully contend But when a just occasion thou shalt finde Thy Vertuous Mistresse lawfully defend For he that in such cases turnes his face Is held a Capon of a Dunghill Race If Safely thou desire to goe Bee nor too swift nor overslow TVTIVS VT POSSIT FIGI ILLVSTR. X. Book 2 OVr Elders when their meaning was to shew A native-speedinesse in Emblem wise The picture of a Dolphin-Fish they drew Which through the waters with great swiftnesse flies An Anchor they did figure to declare Hope stayednesse or a grave-deliberation And therefore when those two united are It giveth us a two-fold Intimation For as the Dolphin putteth us in minde That in the Courses which we have to make Wee should not be to slothfulnesse enclin'd But swift to follow what we undertake So by an Anchor added thereunto Inform'd wee are that to maintaine our speed Hope must bee joyn'd therewith in all we doe If wee will undiscouraged proceed It sheweth also that our speedinesse Must have some staydnesse lest when wee suppose To prosecute our aymes with good successe Wee may by Rashnesse good endeavors lose They worke with most securitie that know The Times and best Occasions of delay When likewise to be neither swift nor slow And when to practise all the speed they may For whether calme or stormie-passages Through this life's Ocean shall their Bark attend This double Vertue will procure their ease And them in all necessities befriend By Speedinesse our works are timely wrought By Staydnesse they to passe are safely brought They that in Hope and Silence live The best Contentment may atchive IN SILENTIO ET SPE ILLVSTR. XI Book 2 IF thou desire to cherish true Content And in a troublous time that course to take Which may be likely mischieves to prevent Some use of this our Hieroglyphick make The Fryers Habit seemeth to import That thou as ancient Monkes and Fryers did Shouldst live remote from places of resort And in retyrednesse lye closely hid The clasped-Booke doth warne thee to retaine Thy thoughts within the compasse of thy breast And in a quiet silence to remaine Vntill thy minde may safely be exprest That Anchor doth informe thee that thou must Walke on in Hope and in thy Pilgrimage Beare up without despairing or distrust Those wrongs and sufferings which attend thine Age. For whensoere Oppression groweth rise Obscurenesse is more safe than Eminence Hee that then keepes his Tongue may keepe his Life Till Times will better favour Innocence Truth spoken where untruth is more approved Will but enrage the malice of thy foes And otherwhile a wicked man is moved To cease from wrong if no man him oppose Let this our Emblem therefore counsell thee Thy life in safe Retyrednesse to spend Let in thy breast thy thoughts reserved bee Till thou art layd where none can thee offend And whilst most others give their Fancie scope Enjoy thy selfe in Silence and in Hope Let none despaire of their Estate For Prudence greater is than Fate FATO PRVDENTIA MAIOR ILLVSTR. XII Book 2 BEe merry man and let no causelesse feare Of Constellation fatall Destinie Or of those false Decrees that publish'd are By foolish braines thy Conscience terrifie To thee these Figures better Doctrines teach Than those blind Stoikes who necessitate Contingent things and arrogantly teach For doubtlesse truths their dreames of changelesse Fate Though true it bee that those things which pertaine As Ground-workes to Gods glorie and our blisse Are fixt for aye unchanged to remaine All is not such that thereon builded is God gives men power to build on his Foundation And if their workes bee thereunto agreeing No Power-created brings that Variation Which can disturbe the Workmans happy being Nor of those workings which required are Is any made unpossible untill Mans heart begins that Counsell to preferre Which is derived from a crooked-will The Starres and many other things incline Our nat'rall Constitutions divers wayes But in the Soule God plac'd a Power-divine Which all those Inclinations overswayes Yea God that Prudence hath infus'd by Grace Which till Selfe-will and Lust betrayes a man Will keepe him firmely in that happy place From whence no Constellation move him can And this is that whereof I notice take From this great Starre enclosed by a Snake Their Friendship firme will ever bide Whose hands unto the Crosse are tide CONIVNCTIS VOTIS ILLVSTR. XIII Book 2 WHen first I knew the world and was untaught By tryde experience what true Friendship meant That I had many faithfull friends I thought And of their Love was wondrous confident For few so young in yeares and meane in fortune Of their Familiars had such troopes as I Who did their daily fellowship importune Or seeme so pleased in their company In all their friendly meetings I was one And of the Quorum in their honest game By day or night I seldome sate alone And welcome seemed wheresoere I came But where are now those multitudes of Friends Alas they on a sudden flasht away Their love begun but for some sensuall ends Which fayling them it would no longer stay If I to vaine expences would have mov'd them They nor their paines nor purses would have spared But in a reall need if I had prov'd them Small showes of kindnesse had bin then declared Of thrice three thousands two perhaps or three Are left me now which yet as Friends I prize But none of them of that great number be With whom I had my youthfull Iollities If therefore thou desire a Friend on Earth Let one pure-faith betwixt you bee begot And seeke him not in vanities or mirth But let Afflictions tye your true-love-knot For they who to the Crosse are firmely tyde Will fast and everlasting Friends abide A Candle that affords no light What profits it by Day or Night CVI BONO ILLVSTR. XIIII Book 2 THere be of those in every Common-weale Whom to this
them who most need instruction may be made use of to stirre up the Affections winne Attention or help the Memory I approve and make use of to those good purposes according as my leisure and the measure of my Facultie will permit that Vanitie might not to worse ends get them wholly into her Possession For I know that the meanest of such conceites are as pertinent to some as Rattles and Hobby-horses to Children or as the A.B.C. and Spelling were at first to those Readers who are now past them And indeed to despâ—se Meane Inventions Pleasant Compositions and Verball Elegancies being qualified as is aforesaid or to banish them out of the world because there be other things of more excellencie were as absurd as to neglect and root out all Herbes which will not make Pottage Or to destroy all Flowers whâ—ch are lesse beautifull than the Tulip or lesse sweet than the Rose I that was never so sullenly wise have alwaies intermingled Sports with Seriousnesse in my Inventions and taken in Verball-conceites as they came to hand without Affectation But having ever aymed rather to profit my Readers than to gaine their praise I never pumpe for those things and am otherwhile contented to seeme Foolish yea and perhaps more foolâ—sh than I am to the Overweening-Wise that I may make others Wiser than they were And as I now doe am not ashamed to set forth a Game at Lots or as it were a Puppet-play in Pictures to allure men to the more serious observation of the profitable Morals couched in these Emblems Neverthelesse if some have sayd and thought truly my Poems have instructed and rectified many People in the Course of Honest-living which is the best Wisedome much more than the Austerer Volumes of some criticall Authors who are by the Common-sort therefore onely judged Wise because they composed Books which few understand save they who need them not In these Lots and Emblems I have the same ayme which I had in my other Writings and though I have not dressed them sutably to curious Fancies yet they yield wholsome nourishment to strengthen the constitution of a Good-life and have solidity enough for a Play-game which was but accidentally composed and by this Occasion These Emblems graven in Copper by Crispinus Passaeus with a Motto in Greeke Latine or Italian round about every Figure and with two Lines or Verses in one of the same Languages periphrasing those Motto's came to my hands almost twentie yeares past The Verses were so meane that they were afterward cut off from the Plates And the Collector of the said Emblems whether hee were the Versifier or the Graver was neither so well advised in the Choice of them nor so exact in observing the true Proprieties belonging to every Figure as hee might have beene Yet the Workman-ship being judged very good for the most part and the rest excusable some of my Friends were so much delighted in the Gravers art and in those Illustrations which for mine owne pleasure I had made upon some few of them that they requested mee to Moralize the rest Which I condiscended unto And they had beene brought to view many yeares agoe but that the Copper Prints which are now gotten could not be procured out of Holland upon any reasonable Conditions If they were worthy of the Gravers and Printers cost being onely dumbe Figures little usefull to any but to young Gravers or Painters and as little delightfull except to Children and Childish-gazers they may now be much more worthy seeing the life of Speach being added unto them may make them Teachers and Remembrancers of profitable things I doe not arrogate so much unto my Illustrations as to thinke they will be able to teach any thing to the Learned yet if they cast their eyes upon them perhaps these Emblems and their Morals may remember them either of some Dutie which they might else forget or minde them to beware of some Danger which they might otherwise be unheedfull to prevent But sure I am the Vulgar Capacities may from them be many waies both Instructed and Remembred yea they that have most need to be Instructed and Remembred and they who are most backward to listen to Instructions and Remembrances by the common Course of Teaching and Admonishing shall be hereby informed of their Dangers or Duties by the way of an honest Recreation before they be aware For when levitie or a childish delight in triflâ—ng Objects hath allured them to looke on the Pictures Curiositie may urge them to peepe further that they might seeke out also their Meanings in our annexed Illustrations In which may lurke some Sentence or Expression so evidently pertinent to tâ—eir Estates Persons or Affections as wâ—ll at that instant or afterward make way for those Considerations which will at last wholly change them or much better them in their Conversation To seeke out the Author of every particular Emblem were a labour without profit and I have beene so far from endeavouring it that I have not so much as cared to find out their meanings in any of these Figures but applied them rather to such purposes as I could thinke of at first sight which upon a second view I found might have beene much betterd if I could have spared time from other imployments Something also I was Confined by obliging my selfe to observe the same number of lines in every Illustration and otherwhile I was thereby constrained to conclude when my best Meditations were but new begunne which though it hath pleased Some by the more comely Vnâ—formitie in the Pages yet it hath much injured the libertie of my Muse There be no doubt some faults committed by the Printer both Literall and Materiall and some Errors of the Gravers in the Figures as in the Tetragrammaton in the Figure of Arion and in the Proprieties due to some other Hieroglyphicks but for the most part they are such as Common-Readers will never perceive and I thinke that they who are Judicious will so plainly finde them to be no faults of mine that leaving them to be amended by those to whom they appertaine and You to accept of these Play-games as you please I bid you Farewell The Occasion Intention and use of the Foure Lotteries adjoyned to these foure Books of Emblems STultorum plena sunt omnia The world is growne so in Love with Follie that the Imprinting of over-solid and serâ—ous â—â—atises would undoe the Book-sellers especially being so chargeable as the many costly Sculptures have made this Booke therefore to advance their Profits rather than to satisfie my owne Iudgement I was moved to invent somewhat which might be likely to please the vulgar Capacitie without hindrance to my chiefe End And though that which I resolved on be not so Plausible to Criticall understandings yet I am contented to hazzard among them so much of my Reputation as that comes to I have often observed that where the Summer-bowers of Recreation are placed neare the Church it drawes
LICET AEGRE ET FRVSTRA ILLVSTR. Xâ— Book 1. EXperience proves that Men who trust upon Their Nat'rall parts too much oft lose the Day And faile in that which els they might have done By vainely trifling pretious Time away It also shewes that many Men have fought With so much Rashnesse those things they desir'd That they have brought most likely Hopes to nought And in the middle of their Courses tir'd And not a few are found who so much wrong Gods Gratiousnesse as if their thinkings were That seeing he deferres his Iudgements long His Vengeance he for ever would forbeare But such as these may see wherein they faile And what would fitter be for them to doe If they would contemplate the slow-pac'd Snaile Or this our Hieroglyphicke looke into For thence we learne that Perseverance brings Large Workes to end though slowly they creepe on And that Continuance perfects many things Which seeme at first unlikely to be done It warnes likewise that some Affaires require More Heed then Haste And that the Course we take Should suite as well our Strength as our Desire Else as our Proverbe saith Haste Waste may make And in a Mysticke-sense it seemes to preach Repentance and Amendment unto those Who live as if they liv'd beyond Gods reach Because he long deferres deserved Blowes For though Iust-Vengeance moveth like a Snaile And slowly comes her comming will not faile As to the World I naked came So naked-stript I leave the same ΠΑÎΤΑ ΛΕΛΟΙΠΑ ILLVSTR. XII Book 1. Thrice happy is that Man whose Thoughts doe reare His Minde above that pitch the Worldling flies And by his Contemplations hovers where He viewes things mortall with unbleared eyes What Trifles then doe Villages and Townes Large Fields or Flockes of fruitfull Cattell seeme Nay what poore things are Miters Scepters Crownes And all those Glories which Men most esteeme Though he that hath among them his Delight Brave things imagines them because they blinde With some false Lustre his beguiled fight He that 's above them their meane-Worth may finde Lord to that Blessed-Station me convey Where I may view the World and view her so That I her true Condition may survey And all her Imperfections rightly know Remember me that once there was a Day When thou didst weane me from them with content Ev'n when shut up within those Gates I lay Through which the Plague-inflicting Angel went And let me still remember that an Houre Is hourely comming on wherein I shall Though I had all the World within my powre Be naked stript and turned out of all But minde me chiefely that I never cleave Too closely to my Selfe and cause thou me Not other Earthly things alone to leave But to forsake my Selfe for love of Thee That I may say now I have all things left Before that I of all things am berest To him a happy Lot befalls That hath a Ship and pros'prous Gales REMIGIO VENTISQUE SECVNDIS ILLVSTR. XIII Book 1. NO wonder he a prosp'rous Voyage findes That hath both Sailes and Oares to serve his turne And still through meanes of some propitious Winds Is to his wished Harbour swiftly borne Nor is it much admir'd if they that lacke Those aydes on which the Common faith depends Are from their hoped aymes repelled backe Or made to labour for unfruitfull ends Yet neither in the Ship Wind Oares or Sailes Nor in the want of Outward meanes alone Consists it that our Hope succeedes or failes But most in that which Men least thinke upon For some endeavour and their Paines are blest With Gales which are so fortunate that they Fly safe and swiftly on among the best Whil'st others labour and are cast away Some others on this Worlds wide Ocean floate And neither Wind nor Tide assistant have Nor Saile nor Oare nor Anchor nor sound Boate Nor take so much as heede themselves to save And yet are safe A third sort then there are Who neither want fit Meanes nor yet neglect The painefull Industrie or honest Care Which Need requires yet find small good effect Therefore let that which you propose be Iust Then use the fairest Meanes to compasse it And though Meanes faile yet foster no mistrust But fearelesly to God your Course commit For Hee to Faithfull Hearts and Honest-Mindes Turnes Losse to Gaine and Stormes to prosp'rous Windes When Vice and Vertue Youth shall wooe T is hard to say which way 't will goe QVID SI SIC ILLVSTR. XXII Book 1. MY hopefull Friends at thrice five yeares and three Without a Guide into the World alone To seeke my Fortune did adventure mee And many hazards I alighted on First Englands greatest Rendevouz I sought Where VICE and VERTVE at the highest sit And thither both a Minde and Bodie brought For neither of their Services unfit Both woo'd my Youth And both perswaded so That like the Young man in our Emblem here I stood and cry'd Ah! which way shall I goe To me so pleasing both their Offers were VICE Pleasures best Contentments promist mee And what the wanton Flesh desires to have Quoth VERTVE I will Wisdome give to thee And those brave things which noblest Mindes doe crave Serve me said VICE and thou shalt soone acquire All those Atchievements which my Service brings Serve me said VERTVE and I le raise thee higher Then VICES can and teach thee better things Whil'st thus they strove to gaine me I espyde Grim Death attending VICE and that her Face Was but a painted Vizard which did hide The foul'st Deformity that ever was LORD grant me grace for evermore to view Her Vglinesse And that I viewing it Her Falsehoods and allurements may eschew And on faire VERTVE my Affection set Her Beauties contemplate her Love embrace And by her safe Direction runne my Race I pine that others may not perish And waste my Selfe their Life to cherish DVM NVTRIO CONSVMOR ILLVSTR. XV. Book 1. OBserve I pray you how the greedy Flame The Fewell on an Altar doth consume How it destroyeth that which feedes the same And how the Nourisher away doth fume For so it fares with Parents that uphold Their thriftlesse Children in unlawfull Pleasures With Cares it weares them out ere they are old And ere their Lives consume consumes their Treasures So fares it with such Wantons as doe feede Vnchast Desires for ev'ry day they grow Vntill their Longing's their Supplies exceede And quite devoure those men that fed them so So fares it with all those that spend their Youth In lab'ring to enrich ungratefull Men Who growing Great and Wealthy by their Truth Returne them Smoke and Ashes backe agen So faâ—es it with good States-men who to keepe A thankelesse Common-wealth in happy Peace Deprive their Mindes of Rest their Eyes of Sleepe And waste themselves that others may encrease And so it fares with Men that passe away Their time in Studies and their Healths impaire That helps to other men become they may And their defective Knowledges repaire But let
I beare about mee all my store And yet a King enjoyes not more OMNIA MEA MECVM PORTO ILLVSTR. XXIIII Book 2 THis Emblem is a Torteise whose owne shell Becomes that house where he doth rent-free dwell And in what place soever hee resides His Arched-Lodging on his backe abides There is moreover found a kind of these That live both on the shore and in the Seas For which respects the Torteise represents That man who in himselfe hath full contents And by the Vertues lodging in his minde Can all things needfull in all places finde To such a Man what ever doth betide From him his Treasures nothing can divide If of his outward-meanes Theeves make a prise Hee more occasion hath to exercise His inward-Riches and they prove a Wealth More usefull and lesse lyable to stealth If any at his harmelesse person strike Himselfe hee streight contracteth Torteis-like To make the Shell of Suffrance his defence And counts it Life to die with Innocence If hee by hunger heat or cold be payn'd If hee by slaundred sleighted or disdayn'd Hee alwayes keepes and carries that within him Which may from those things ease and comfort win him When him uncloathed or unhous'd you see His Resolutions clothes and houses bee That keepe him safer and farre warmer too Than Palaces and princely Robes can doe God give mee wealth that hath so little Cumber And much good doo 't the World with all her Lumber To Learning J a love should have Although one foot were in the Grave TAMEN DISCAM ILLVSTR. XXV Book 2 HEre we an Aged-man described have That hath one foot already in the Grave And if you marke it though the Sunne decline And horned Cynthia doth begin to shine With open booke and with attentive eyes Himselfe to compasse Knowledge he applyes And though that Evening end his last of dayes Yet I will study more to learne he sayes From this we gather that while time doth last The time of learning never will be past And that each houre till we our life lay downe Still something touching life is to be knowne When he was old wise Cato learned Greeke But we have aged-folkes that are to seeke Of that which they have much more cause to learne Yet no such minde in them wee shall discerne For that which they should studie in their prime Is oft deferred till their latter time And then old-age unfit for learning makes them Or else that common dulnesse overtakes them Which mâ—kes ashamed that it should be thought They need like little children to be taught And so out of this world they doe returne As wise as in that weeke when they were borne God grant me grace to spend my life-time so That I my duety still may seeke to know And that I never may so farre proceed To thinke that I more Knowledge doe not need But in Experience may continue growing Till I am fill'd with fruits of pious-knowing Good-fortune will by those abide In whom True-vertue doth reside VIRTVTI FORTVNA COMES ILLVSTR. XXVI Book 2 MArke how the Cornucopias here apply Their Plenties to the Rod of Mercury And if it seeme not needlesse learne to know This Hieroglyphick's meaning ere you goe The Sages old by this Mercurian-wand Caducaeus nam'd were wont to understand Art Wisedome Vertue and what else we finde Reputed for endowments of the Minde The Cornucopias well-knowne Emblems are By which great wealth and plenties figur'd were And if you joyne together what they spell It will to ev'ry Vnderstanding tell That where Internall-Graces may be found Eternall-blessings ever will abound For this is truth and though some thoughts in you Suggest that this is often times untrue This ever is the truth and they have got Few right-form'd Vertues who believe it not I will confesse true Vertue hath not ever All Common-plenties for which most indeavour Nor have the Perfect'st-Vertues those high places Which Knowledge Arts and such as have the faces Of outward beauty many times attaine For these are things which often those men gaine That are more flesh then spirit and have need Of carnall-helpes till higher they proceede But they of whom I speake are flowne so high As not to want those Toyes for which wee crye And I had showne you somewhat of their store But that this Page had roome to write no more The Gospel thankefully imbrace For God vouchsafed us this Grace DEVS NOBIS HAEC OTIA FECIT ILLVSTR. XXVII Book 2 THis moderne Emblem is a mute expressing Of Gods great Mercies in a Moderne-blessing And gives me now just cause to sing his praise For granting me my being in these dayes The much-desired Messages of Heav'n For which our Fathers would their lives have giv'n And in Groves Caves and Mountaines once a yeare Were glad with hazard of their goods to heare Or in lesse bloudy times at their owne homes To heare in private and obscured roomes Lo those those Ioyfull-tydings we doe live Divulg'd in every Village to perceive And that the sounds of Gladnesse eccho may Through all our goodly Temples ev'ry day This was Oh God thy doing unto thee Ascrib'd for ever let all Prayses bee Prolong this Mercie and vouchsafe the fruit May to thy Labour on this Vine-yard suit Lest for our fruitlesnesse thy Light of grace Thou from our Golden candlesticke displace We doe me thinkes already Lord beginne To wantonize and let that loathing in Which makes thy Manna tastlesse And I feare That of those Christians who more often heare Then practise what they know we have too many And I suspect my selfe as much as any Oh! mend me so that by amending mee Amends in others may increased be And let all Graces which thou hast bestow'd Returne thee honour from whom first they flow'd The Bees will in an Helmet breed And Peace doth after Warre succeed EX BELLO PAX ILLVSTR. XXVIII Book 2 WHen you have heeded by your Eyes of sense This Helmet hiving of a Swarme of Bees Consider what may gather'd be from thence And what your Eye of Vnderstanding sees That Helmet and those other Weapons there Betoken Warre the Honey-making Flyes An Emblem of a happy Kingdome are Injoying Peace by painfull Industries And when all these together are exprest As in this Emblem where the Bees doe seeme To make their dwelling in a Plumed-Crest A Morall is implyed worth esteeme For these inferre mysteriously to me That Peace and Art and Thrift most firme abides In those Re-publikes where Armes cherisht bee And where true Martiall-discipline resides When of their Stings the Bees disarm'd become They who on others Labours use to prey Incourag'd are with violence to come And beare their Honey and their Waxe away So when a People meerely doe affect To gather Wealth and foolishly secure Defences necessary quite neglect Their Foes to spoyle their Land it will allure Long Peace brings Warre and Warre brings Peace againe For when the smart of Warfare seizeth on them They crye Alarme and
at last appeare More prevalent then your defences are It is a large-growne Pig of that wilde Swine Which ev'ry day attempts to undermine Our Safeties Fort T was he which long agoe Did seeke the Holy-Vineyards overthrow And if we charge him not with all our power The Sire or hee will enter and devoure But what 's our strength O Lord or what are wee In such a Combate without ayde from thee Oh come to helpe us therefore in this Fight And let us be inabled in thy might So we shall both in life-time Conquests have And be victorious also in the Grave Shee shall increase in glory still Vntill her light the world doth fill DONEC TOTVÌ„ IMPLEAT ORBEÌ„ ILLVSTR. XLIX Book 2 WHat in this Emblem that mans meanings were Who made it first I neither know nor care For whatsoere he purposed or thought To serve my purpose now it shall be taught Who many times before this Taske is ended Must picke out Moralls where was none intended This knot of Moones or Crescents crowned thus Illustrate may a Mystery to us Of pious use and peradventure such As fâ—om old Hieroglyphicks erâ—es not much Old-times upon the Moone three names bâ—stow'd Because three diverse wayes her selfe she show'd And in the sacred-bookes it may be showne That holy-Church was figur'd by the Moone Then these three Moones in one may intimate The holy-Churches threefold blest estate The Moone still biding in our Hemisphaere May typisie the Church consisting here Of mâ—n yet living when she shewes her light Amongâ—â— here in portions of the night The Church it figures as consist she may Of them whose bodies in the Grave doe stay And whose blest spirits are ascended thither Where Soule and Body meet at last together 〈◊〉 when the Moone is hidden from our eyes The Church-triumphant then she signifies Which is a Cresâ—ent yet that some and some Must grow till all her puts together come And then this Moone shall beames at full display LORD hasten this great Coronation-day True Vertue is a Coat of Maile ' Gainst which no Weapons can prevaile VIRTVS LORICA FIDELIS ILLVSTR. L. Book 2 LOrd what a coyle men keepe and with what eare Their Pistolls and their Swords doe they prepare To be in readinesse and how they load Themselves with Irons when they ride abroad How wise and wary too can they become To fortifie their persons up at home With lockes and barres and such domestick-Armes As may secure their bodies there from harmes However when all 's done we see their foes Breake in sometimes and worke their overthrowes For though about themselves with Cable-quoiles They could inclose a hundred thousand miles The gunshot of a slanderous tongue may smite Their Fame quite through it to the very White Yea more though there from others they were free They wounded by themselves to death might be Except their Innocence more guards them than The strength of twenty royall Armies can If therefore thou thy Spoylers wilt beguile Thou must be armed like this Crocodile Ev'n with such nat'rall Armour ev'ry day As no man can bestowe or take away For spitefull Malice at one time or other Will pierce all borrowed Armours put together Without let Patience durifie thy Skin Let Innocencie line thy heart within Let constant Fortitude unite them so That they may breake the force of ev'ry blow And when thou thus art arm'd if ill thou speed Let me sustaine the Mischiefe in thy steed Finis Libri secundi THE SECOND LOTTERIE 1 SOme friends and foes of thine there be That make a wondring-stocke of thee Some other over-much of late To thy dishonour boldly prate And peradventure to thy face E're long they 'l doe thee some disgrace Thine Emblem therefore doth advise That thou should'st make them no replies And showes that silent-patience than Shall stead thee more then Answers can 2 By such as know you it is thought That you are better fed then taught And that it might augment your wit If you were sometimes hunger-bit That Emblem which by Lot you drew To this effect doth somewhat shew But 't will goe hard when you are faine To feed your Bowells by your Braine 3 Perhaps you may be one of those Whom from the Church an Organ blowes Or peradventure one of them Who doth all melody contemne Or one whose life is yet untaught How into tune it should be brought If so your Lot to you hath sent An Emblem not impertinent 4 God blesse thee whosoere thou art And give thee still an honest heart For by the fortune of thy Lot That Sword and Halter thou hast got Which threatens death with much disgrace Or promises the Hang-mans's place But be not griev'd for now and than The Gallowes makes an honest man And some who scape an outward curse Both in their lives and deaths are worse M 5 Thou would'st be loth we should suspect Thou didst not well thy King affect Or that thou should'st be so ingrate To sleight the welfare of the State Yeâ— thou perchance art one of those Who discord through the Kingdome sowes Wâ— know not but if such thou be Marke what thine Emblem teaches thee 6 In you a naturall desire Beginnes to blow Affection's fire But by discretion guide the blast Lest it consume you at the last Or by the fury of the same Blow out some necessary Flame Yea that which doth your Profit breed May harme you if you take not heed 7 Be carefull what you goe about For by this Lot there may be doubt That you some wickednesse intend Which will undoe you in the end If you have done the deed repent If purpos'd ill the same prevent Else though in jest this Counsell came In earnest you may rue the same 8 Thou art afflicted or ere long Shalt sing some lamentable Song And of those troubles take some share Which thou art very loth to beare But be not overmuch dismayd Nor pine what ere on thee be layd For comfort shall thy joy restore And make thee gladder then before 9 If this thy Chance hath done thee right Thou art or hast beene apt to fight And wilt upon occasion small Beginne sometimes a needlesse brawle To shew thee therefore thy defect Or that thy folly may be check't And fit thy minde for better things Thine Emblem some good counsell brings 10 What thing soere thou undertak'st Thou seldome good conclusion mak'st For still when thou hast ought to doe Thou art too hasty or too slow And from that equall temper stray'st By which thy worke effect thou mayst To mend this fault thou counsell'd art Be wiser therefore then thou wert 11 Thou hast in publicke lived long And over freely us'd thy tongue But if thy safety thou desire Be silent and thy selfe retire And if thou wilt not be undone Possâ—sse thy joyes and hopes alone For they that will from harmes be free Muâ—â— silent and obscured bee 12 Thy Fortune thou dost
shall be best inclin'de Such Fruits to yeeld as they were made to beare My barren Soule therefore manure thou so So harrow it so emptie and so fill So raise it up and bring it downe so low As best may lay it levell to thy Will In this Desire the worke is well begunne Say thou the Word and all is fully â—one True Knowledge is a constant Friend Whose Friendship never shall have end SCIENTIA IMMUTABILIS ILLVSTR. XI Book 3 BY viewing this fixt-Head enwreath'd with Bayes And what the Motto round about it sayes Your Apprehension's eye may partly see What constant Vertues in true Knowledge be For if right plac'd it be it ever will Continue in the same condition still And though it make mens manners to be chang'd Yet never is it from it selfe estrang'd Nor doth nor can it cease to be a Friend What Fate soever shall on us attend When Wealth is lost or faileth to besteed us Shee findes out honest meanes to cloath and feede us In farre and forraigne Lands shee will become As kinde and as familiar as at home And travelleth without the costly cumber Of Carriages or Clokebagges full of Lumber No Place can from our presence her enclose Nor is she frighted from us by our Foes No Pickthankes of her Favours can bereave us No Promises can woo her to deceive us In Youth in Age in Sickenesse and in Griefe Shee bringeth Consolation and reliefe And is in all estates a blessing to us So constant and so apt all helpes to doe us That he for whom such Knowledge God provideth Enjoyes a Friend that alwaies firme abideth Lord I am friendlesse left therefore to me This Knowledge and this Friend vouchsafe to bee For thou that Wisdome art from heav'n descending Which neither hath beginning change nor ending By Studiousnesse in Vertue 's waies Men gaine an universall-praise VIRTUTE AC STUDIO PER ORBEM FAMA PERPETUA COMPARATUR ILLVSTR. XII Book 3 WHen Emblems of too many parts consist Their Author was no choice Emblematist But is like those that wast whole howres to tell What in three minutes might be said as well Yet when each member is interpreted Out of these vulgar Figures you may read A Morall altogether not unfit To be remembred ev'n by men of wit And if the Kernell proove to be of worth No matter from what shell we drew it forth The Square whereon the Globe is placed here Must Vertue be That Globe upon the Square Must meane the World The Figure in the Round Which in appearance doth her Trumpet sound Was made for Fame The Booke she beares may show What Breath it is which makes her Trumpet blow The Wreath inclosing all was to intend A glorious Praise that never shall have end And these in one summ'd up doe seeme to say That if men study in a vertuous-way The Trumpet of a never-ceasing Fame Shall through the world proclaime their praisefull Name Now Reader if large Fame be thy ambition This Emblem doth informe on what condition She may be gain'd But herein me beleeve Thy studie for meere-praise will thee deceive And if thy Vertues be but onely those For which the vulgar Fame her Trumpet blowes Thy Fame 's a blast Thy Vertues Vices be Thy Studie's vaine and shame will follow thee Above thy Knowledge doe not rise But with Sobrietie be wise NOLI ALTUM SAPERE ILLVSTR. XIII Book 3 EXalt thou not thy selfe though plac'd thou be Vpon the topp of that old Olive-tree From whence the nat'rall branches prun'd have bin That thou the better mightst be grafted in Be not so over-wise as to presume The Gard'ner for thy goodnesse did assume Thy small Crab-Olive to insert it there Where once the sweetest-berries growing were Nor let thy Pride those few old-boughes contemne Which yet remaine upon their ancient Stemme Because thy new-incorporated Sprayes Doe more enjoy the Sunnes refreshing raies But humbled rather and more awfull bee Lest hee that cut off them doe breake downe thee Be wise in what may to thy good belong But seeke not Knowledge to thy neighbours wrong Be thankefull for the Grace thou hast receiv'd But judge not those who seeme thereof bereav'd Nor into those forbidden secrets peepe Which God-Almighty to himselfe doth keepe Remember what our Father Adam found When he for Knowledge sought beyond his bound For doubtlesse ever since both good and ill Are left with Knowledge intermingled still And if we be not humble meeke and warie We are in daily danger to miscary Large proves the fruit which on the Earth doth lie Windes breake the twigge that 's grafted over-high And he that will beyond his bounds be wise Becomes a very Foole before he dies When each man keepes unto his Trade Then all things better will be made TRACTANT FABRILIA FABRI ILLVSTR. XIV Book 3 WE more should thrive and erre the seldomer If we were like this honest Carpenter Whose Emblem in reproofe of those is made That love to meddle farther then their Trade But most are now exceeding cunning growne In ev'ry mans affaires except their owne Yea Coblers thinke themselves not onely able To censure but to mend Apelles Table Great-Men sometime will gravely undertake To teach how Broomes and Morter we should make Their Indiscretions Peasants imitate And boldly meddle with affaires of State Some Houswives teach their Teachers how to pray Some Clarks have shew'd themselves as wife as they And in their Callings as discreet have bin As if they taught their Grandames how to spinne And if these Customes last a few more Ages All Countries will be nothing els but Stages Of evill-acted and mistaken parts Or Gallemaufries of imperfect Arts. But I my selfe you 'l say have medlings made In things that are improper to my Trade No for the MVSES are in all things free Fit subject of their Verse all Creatures be And there is nothing nam'd so meane or great Whereof they have not Liberty to treat Both Earth and Heav'n are open unto these And when to take more libertie they please They Worlds and things create which never were And when they list they play and meddle there A Shepherd carefull of the Sheepe At all times faithfull Watch doth keepe NON DORMIT QUI CUSTODIT ILLVSTR. XV. Book 3 THe Figure of a Storke in elder dayes Was us'd in Hieroglyphick many wayes But when one Foote thus grasp'd a Peple-stone The other being firmely fixed on The Staffe Episcopall in that position It makes an Emblem of a late edition By some thought not improper to expresse Their painefull and their serious watchfulnesse Who take upon themselves the Pastorall care And in that Function truely watchfull are The Shepherds-Crooke doth some expression make Of that regard which of their Flocks they take The Peble in the Foote doth seeme to showe That these must farther diligence bestowe And use their utmost powâ—r themselves to keepe From slothfull Ease and from intemp'rate sleepe For he that hath such Duties undertooke And
must the lives of others overlooke Shall finde himselfe unto himselfe become A burthen and a Charge more troublesome Thâ—n all his Flocke unles he still provide His owne aswell as others waies to guide Now though this Emblems Morall doth concerne The Clergie most yet hence we all may learne Strict watch to keepe since unto all that bee A Watchmans place belongs in some degree Which to discharge if wee endeavour still Our universall Shepherd aide us will And us from harmes and error he will keepe For Hee that guardeth Isr'ell doth not sleepe Our Dayes untill our Life hath end In Labours and in Hopes wee spend IN SPE ET LABORE TRANSIGO VITAM ILLVSTR. XVI Book 3 AS soone as our first Parents disobey'd Forthwith a Curse for their offence was layd Inforcing them and their succeeding race To get their Food with sweatings of the Face But afterward this Doome to mitigate And ease the miseries of their estate God gave them Hope that she might helpe them beare The burthens of their Travaile and their care A Woman with an Anchor and a Spade An Emblem of that Mystery is made And this Estate wee all continue in By God's free Mercie and our proper Sinne. By Sinne the Labour is on us intail'd By Grace it is that Hoping hath not fail'd And if in Hope our Labours wee attend That Curse will prove a Blessing in the end My Lot is Hope and Labour and betweene These Two my Life-time hath prolonged beene Yet hitherto the best of all my Paine With most of all my Hopes have beene in vaine And to the VVorld-ward I am like to wast My time in fruitlesse labours till the last However I have still my Hopes as faire As hee that hath no temptings to Despaire And change I will not my last howres for theirs Whose Fortune more desirable appeares Nor cease to Hope and Labour though of most My Hope and Labour be adjudged lost For though I lose the shaddow of my Paines The stubstance of it still in God remaines Man's life no Temper more doth blesse Then Simple-prudent-harmelessenesse PRUDENTE SIMPLICITATE ILLVSTR. XVII Book 3 WHen from the harmelesse Turtâ—e and the Snake Their most commended properties wee take And mixe them well they make a composition Which yeelds a temper of the best condition Yet wickednesse or sorrow doth abound Where any one of these alone is found For whensoe're the Serpents-braine we find With which there is no Dove like-mockenesse joyn'd Without all peradventure thence proceedes All harmefull fraud and all injurious deedes And where such meekenesse as doth seeme to be In harmelesse Doves divided you shall see From that discretion and that policie Which in the Serpents head is thought to lie They liable to ev'ry wrong become And to it selfe make Vertue burthensome But where these two are ioyned they procure A life so sweet so rich and so secure That all the pow'rs of Malice cannot shake Their out-workes nor within them terrors make Vouchsafe thou oh my God! vouchsafe in me That these two Vertues may vnited be Such Prudence give as never will disdaine The Dove-like Innocencie to retaine That meekenesse grant me which delighteth not It selfe with indiscretion to besot But let these two each other so defend And so in me continue till my end That simple pâ—udence I may still possesse Although the World shall count it foolishnesse Where er'e we dwell the Heav'ns are neere Let us but fly and wee are there TRANSITUS CELER EST ET AVOLAMUS ILLVSTR. XVIII Book 3 WHy with a trembling faintnesse should we feare The face of Death and fondly linger here As if we thought the Voyage to be gone Lay through the shades of Styx or Acheron Or that we either were to travell downe To uncouth Deapthes or up some heights unknowne Or to some place remote whose nearest end Is farther then Earths limits doe extend It is not by one halfe that distance thither Where Death le ts in as it is any whither No not by halfe so farre as to your bed Or to that place where you should rest your head If on the ground you layd your selfe ev'n there Where at this moment you abiding are This Emblem shewes if well you looke thereon That from your Glasse of life which is to run There 's but one step to Death and that you tread At once among the Living and the Dead In whatsoever Land we live or die God is the same And Heav'n is there as nigh As in that place wherein we most desire Our Soules with our last breathing to expire Which things well heeding let us not delay Our Iourney when we summon'd are away As those inforced Pilgrims use to doe That know not whither nor how farre they goe Nor let us dreame that we in Time or Place Are farre from ending our uncertaine Race But let us fixe on Heav'n a faithfull eye And still be flying thither till wee die His Pace must wary be and slow That hath a Slippery-way to goe PEDE TENTIM ILLVSTR. XIX Book 3 A Travailer when he must undertake To seek his passage o're some Frozen Lake With leisure and with care he will assay The glassy smoothnesse of that Icie-way Lest he may slip by walking over-fast Or breake the crackling Pavement by his hast And so for want of better taking heed Incurre the mischiefes of Vnwary-speed We are all travellers and all of us Have many passages as dangerous As Frozen lakes and Slippery-wayes we tread In which our Lives may soone be forfeited With all our hopes of Life-eternall too Unlesse we well consider what we doe There is no private Way or publicke Path But rubs or holes or slipp'tinesse it hath Whereby wee shall with Mischiefes meet unlesse Wee walke it with a stedfast-wartnesse The steps to Honour are on Pinacles Compos'd of melting Snow and Isicles And they who tread not nicely on their tops Shall on a suddaine slip from all their hopes Yea ev'n that way which is both sure and holy And leades the Minde from Vanities and Folly Is with so many other Path-wayes crost As that by Rashnesse it may soone be lost Vnlesse we well deliberate upon Those Tracts in which our Ancestours have gone And they who with more haste then heed will runne May lose the way in which they well begunne Our Pelican by bleeding thus Fulfill'd the Law and cured Vs. PRO LEGE ET PRO GREGE ILLVSTR. XX. Book 3 LOoke here and marke her sickly birds to feed How freely this kinde Pelican doth bleed See how when other Salves could not be found To cure their sorrowes she her selfe doth wound And when this holy Emblem thou shalt see Lift up thy soule to him who dy'd for thee For this our Hieroglyphick would expresse That Pelican which in the Wildernesse Of this vast World was left as all alone Our miserable Nature to bemone And in whose eyes the teares of pitty stood When he beheld his owne unthankfull Brood His Favours and his
their beauties and abate their prides Thus fares it with a Nation and their King 'Twixt whom there is a native Sympathy His Presence and his Favours like the Spring Doe make them sweetly thrive and fructity Yea like fresh Groves or Flow'rs of pleasing hew Themselves in all their jollity they showe But they if with displeasure them he view Soone lose their Glory and contemned growe All are not Heliotropes that favour'd growe In Princes Courts nor Marigolds that beare The golden blossomes but some spring below Like Daysie flow'rs that in the Pathwayes are Yet all shall feele it when their Sov'radgues eye Doth frowne or smile regard or else neglect Yea it will finde them in Obscurity By some Disheartning or some sweet Effect Vouchsafe to shine on Mee my Gracious King And then my Wiâ—her'd Leaves will freshly spring The Right-hand way is Vertues Path Though rugged Passages it hath HAC VIRTUTIS ITER ILLVSTR. XXVI Book 3 I Fany covet knowledge of that Path Which thither tends where Peace her dwelling hath This Emblem being well observ'd will show On whether side it will be best to goe The Left hand way seemes to be walk'd at ease Through Lawnes and Downes and green-swath'd Passages And much allures the Traveller to trie The many Pleasures which doe that Way lye The Right-hand-course is through a Pathlesse-moâ—nd Of newly ploughed and deep-furrow'd Ground Which as uneasie seemeth to be gone As in appearance rough to looke upon Yet this is Vertue 's Path This Way uneven Is that which unto ev'ry man is given To travaile in and hath a safer ending Then those whereon more Pleasures are attending And though it leades us thither where we see Few promises of outward Glories bee It brings us when we passe the common fight Through easy Tracts to gaine our Hearts delight The other Way though seeming streight it lyes To Pleasure's Pallaces before our eyes Hath many rubs and perills which betweene Our Hopes and Vs will alwayes lurke unseene Till we are drawne so farre that 't will be vaine To seeke with safety to returne againe This let us heed and still be carefull too Which Course is most concerneth us to goe And though the Left-hand-way more smoothnesse hath Let us goe forward in the Right-hand-path I was erected for a Bound And I resolve to stand my ground CONCEDO NULLI ILLVSTR. XXVII Book 3 THe Bounder-Stones held sacred heretofore Some did so superstitiously adore As that they did not onely rev'rence doe them But have ascrib'd a kinde of God-head to them For Terminus had many a Sacrifize As well as other senslesse Deities I am not so prophane as to desire Such Ethnick zeale should set our hearts on fire But wish I could Men better did regard Those Bounders which Antiquity hath rear'd And that they would not with so much delight There make incroachments where they have no righâ— That ev'ry man might keep his owne Possessions Our Fathers us'd in reverent Processions With zealous prayers and with praisefull cheere To walke their Parish limits once a yeare And well knowne Markes which sacrilegious Hands Now cut or breake so bord'red out their Lands That ev'ry one distinctly knew his owne And many brawles now rise were then unknowne But since neglected sacred Bounders were Most men Incroachers and Intruders are They grieve each other and their Dues they steale From â—rince from Parent and from Common-weale Nay more these bold Vsurpers are so rude That they on Christ's Inheritance intrude But that will be aveng'd and on his right Though such incroach he will not lose it quite For hee 's that Bounder and that Corner-stone Who all confines and is confin'd of none Where Lovers fitly matched be In mutuall-duties they agree MANUS MANUM LAUAT ILLVSTR. XXVIII Book 3 WOuld God I could as feelingly infusâ— A good effect of what this Emblem shewes As I can tell in words what Moralls bee The use of that which here you pictur'd fee. Most Lovers minde their Penny or their Pleasure Or painted Honors and they all things measure Not as they are but as they helpfull seeme In compassing those toyes they most esteeme Though many wish to gaine a faithfull Friend They seldome seeke one for the noblest end Nor know they should they finde what they had sought How Friendship should be manag'd as it ought Such as good Husbands covet or good Wives The deare companions of most happy lives Wrong Courses take to gaine them yet contemne Their honest love who rightly counsell them And lest they unawares the Marke may hit They blinde their judgements and befoole their wit He that will finde a Friend must seeke out one To exercise unfeigned love upon And mutuall-duties must both yield and take Not for himselfe but for his Friendship sake Such as doe rightly marry neither be With Dowries caught nor wooe a Pedigree Nor. meerely come together when they wed To reape the youthfull pleasures of the Bed But seeke that fitnesse and that Sympathy Which maketh up the perfect'st Amity A paire so match'd lâ—ke Hands that wash each other As mutuall helpes will sweetly live together When Law and Armes together meet The World descends to kisse thoâ—â— feet LEGIBUS ET ARMIS ILLVSTR. XXIX Book 3 THe Picture of a Crowned king here stands Upon a Globe and with outstretched hands Holds forth in view a Law booke and a Sword Which plaine and moderne Figures may afford This meaning that a King who hath regard To Courts for pleading and a Court of Guard And at all times a due respect will carry To pious Lawes and Actions military Shall not be Monarch onely in those Lands That are by Birth right under his commands But also might if just occasion were Make this whole Globe of Earth his power to feare Advance his Favorites and bring downe all His opposites below his pedestall His conquering Sword in forraigne Realmes he drawes As oft as there is just or needfull cause At home in ev'ry Province of his Lands At all times armed are his Trayned bands His Royall fleets are terrours to the Seas At all houres rigg'd for usefull Voyages And often be his Navy doth increase That Warres Provisions may prolong his Peace Nor by the tenure of the Sword alone Delighteth he to hold his awfull Throne But likewise labours Mischiefes to prevent By wholsome Lawes and rightfull Goverment For where the Sword commands without the Law A Tyrant keepes the Land in slavish awe And where good Lawes doe want an Armed pow'r Rebellious Knaves their Princes will devoure Faire-shewes we should not so much heed As the Vprightnesse of the Deed. NON QUAM FORMOSA SED QUAM RECTA ILLVSTR. XXX Book 3 WHen wee should use a Ruler or a Square Or such like Instruments as usefull are In forming other things we prize not so The carving or the colourable show Which makes them beautifull in outward sight As when for Vsefulnesse we finde them right A warped Bowe though strung with silken
threads And crooked Arrowes tipt with Golden heads Delight not Archers tyet such uselesse Toyes Be fit enough for Bunglers and for Boyes A skilfull Artist in what Art soe're He seekes to make his ablenesse appeare Will give large Prices with much more content To buy a plaine if perfect Instrument Then take for nothing or for thankes alone An uselesse Toole though gay to looke upon From whence observe that if there must be sought When meere Mechanick-workes are to be wrought Such Instruments as rather have esteeme For their true-being then for what they seeme Much more should all those Rules be such whereby Wee goe about our selves to rectify And build up what in Body or in minde We may defective or impaired finde Else peradventure that we thinke to mend More faulty may become at later end But hence I chiefly learne to take a care My Life and Actions rather be sincere Then seeming such And yet I le thinke no shame To seeme to be as honest as I am My Substance and my Light are spent In seeking other mens content ALIIS IN SERVIENDO CONSUMOR ILLVSTR. XXXI Book 3 IF this nigh-wasted Candle you shall view And heed it well it may enlighten you To looke with more compassion on their paines Who rob themselves to multiply your gaines The Taper burnes to give another light Ev'n till it selfe it hath consumed quite And all the profit which it thence doth winne Is to be snufft by ev'ry Commer-in This is the Lot of some whom I have knowne Who freely all their life-time have bestowne In such industrious labour as appeares To further others profits more then theirs And all their Patrimonies well nigh spent The ruining of others to prevent The wit the strength and all the pow'r they had Which might by probability have made Good meanes to raise them in this world as high As most who climbe to wealthy dignity Ev'n these they have bestow'd to better them Who their indeavors for their paines contemne These are those Lamps whose flames from time to time Have through each Age and through-our ev'ry Clime To one another that true Light convey'd Which Ignorance had els long since betray'd To utter darknesse These despightfull Pride Oft snuffs and oft to put them out hath try'd But from the brightnesse of such Lights as they We got our Light of knowledge at this day To them God make us kinder and to Him More thankfull that we gain'd such light by them The safest Riches hee shall gaine Who alwayes Faithfull doth remaine DITAT SERVATA FIDES ILLVSTR. XXXII Book 3 THe Horne-of-plenty which Wealth signifies The Hand-in-hand which Plighted faith implies Together being painted seeme to teach That such as will be honest shall be rich If this be so why then for Lucre-sake Doe many breake the Promises they make Why doe they cheat and couzen lye and sweare Why practise they all Villanies that are To compasse Wealth And how doe such as they Inlarge their ill-got Portions ev'ry day Or whence proceedes it that sometimes we see Those men grow poore who faithfull seeme to bee Thus oft it proves and therefore Falshood can In likelihood much more inrich a man Then blamelesse Faith and then the Motto here Improper to this Emblem doth appeare But well enough they sute and all is true Which these things being thus united shew Should it be then concluded that all those Who poore and honest seeme have made but showes Of reall Faith And therfore plagu'd have bin With publicke lashes for their private sin Indeed sometime it hath succeeded so But know you should that most who richest grow In Outward-wealth are very poore in that Which brings true Plentie and a blest Estate And that Good men though poore they seeme to bee Have Riches which the Worldling cannot see Now He who findes himselfe endow'd with such What e're wee thinke him is exceeding rich Poore-Theeves in Halters we behold And great-Theeves in their Chaines of gold FVRES PRIVATI IN NERVO PVBLICI IN AVRO ILLVSTR. XXXIII Book 3 IF you this Emblem well have look'd upon Although you cannot helpe it yet bemone The Worlds blacke Impudence and if you can Continue or become an honest man The poore and petty Pilferers you see On Wheeles on Gibbets and the Gallow tree Trust up when they that farre more guilty are Pearle Silke and costly Cloth of Tissue weare Good God! how many hath each Land of those Who neither limbe nor life nor credit lose But rather live befriended and applauded Yet have of all their livelihoods defrauded The helplesse Widowes in their great distresse And of their Portions robd the Fatherlesse Yet censur'd others Errours as if none Had cause to say that they amisse have done How many have assiâ—ted to condemne Poore soules for what was never stolne by them And persecuted others for that Sin Which they themselves had more transgressed in How many worthlesse men are great become By that which they have stolne or cheated from Their Lords or by some practices unjust From those by whom they had beene put in trust How many Lawyers wealthy men are growne By taking Fees for Causes overthrowne By their defaults How many without feare Doe rob the King and God yet blamelesse are God knowes how many would I did so too So I had pow'r to make them better doe Whil'st thou dost here injoy thy breath Continue mindfull of thy Death MEMENTO MORI ILLVSTR. XXXIV Book 3 WHen thou beholdest on this Burying-stone The melancholly Night-bird sitting on The fleshlesse ruines of a rotten-Skull Whose Face perhaps hath been more beautifull Then thine is now take up a serious thought And doe as thou art by the Motto taught Remember Death and minde I thee beseech How soone these Fowles may at thy window screech Or call thee as the common people deeme To dwell in Graves and Sepulchers by them Where nothing else but Bats and Owles appeare Or Goblins form'd by Fancies and by Feare If thou shalt be advis'd to meditate Thy latâ—er end before it be too late And whil'st thy friends thy strength and wits may bee In likely case to hâ—lp and comfort thee There may be courses taken to divert Thosâ— Frights which else would terrifie thy heart When Deaâ—h drawes neare and helpe thee plucke away That Sâ—ng of his which would thy Soule disâ—ay But iâ— thou madly ramble onward still Til tâ—ou art sinking downe that darkesome hill Which borders on the Grave and dost bâ—ginne To see â—he Shades of Terrour and of Sinne To fly â—crosse thy Conscience 't will be hard To 〈◊〉 this Lesson or to be prepar'd For thâ—â— sad parting which will forced bee Beâ—â—â— eâ—hiâ— much beloved World and thee Consider this therefoâ—e while Time thou hast Anâ— put not off this Bus'nesse till the last Doe not the golden Meane exceed In Word in Passion nor in Deed. SERVA MODVM ILLVSTR. XXXV Book 3 AS is the head-strong Horse and blockish Mule Ev'n such without the Bridle and
want or to exceed Whether our Emblem 's Author thought of this You need not care nor will it be amisse If they who perfect Lovers would be thought Doe mind what by this Morall they are taught Where many-Forces joyned are Vnconquerable-pow'r is there CONCORDIA INSUPERABILIS ILLVSTR. XLV Book 3 AN Emblem 's meaning here I thought to conster And this doth rather fashion out a Monster Then forme an Hieroglyphicke but I had These Figures as you see them ready made By others and I meane to morallize Their Fancies not to mend what they devise Yet peradventure with some vulgar praise This Picture though I like it not displayes The Morall which the Motto doth imply And thus it may be sayd to signifie He that hath many Faculties or Friends To keepe him safe or to acquire his ends And fits them so and keepes them so together That still as readily they ayd each other As if so many Hands they had been made And in One-body usefull being had That man by their Assistance may at length Attaine to an unconquerable strength And crowne his honest Hopes with whatsoever He seekes for by a warranted Endeavour Or else it might be sayd that when we may Make our Affections and our Sense obay The will of Reason and so well agree That we may finde them still at peace to be They 'l guard us like so many Armed hands And safely keepe us whatsoere withstands If others thinke this Figure here inferres A better sense let those Interpreters Vnriddle it and preach it where they please Their Meanings may be good and so are these The Hearts of Kings are in God's Hands And as He lists He Them commands IN MANU DEI COR REGIS ILLVSTR. XLVI Book 3 WHy doe men grudge at those who raysed be By royall Favour from a low degree Know this Hee should be honour'd whom the King To place of Dignity shall please to bring Why should they blame their Kings for fav'ring such Whom they have thought scarce meriting so much God rules their Hearts and they themselves deceive Who dreame that Kings exalt without Gods leave Why murmure they at God for guiding so The Hearts of Kings as oft they see him doe Or at his Workes why should they take offence As if their Wit could teach his Providence His just and his all-seeing Wisedome knowes Both whom and why he crownes or overthrowes And for what cause the Hearts of Princes bee Inlarg'd or shut when we no cause can see We sometime know what 's well and what 's amisse But of those Truths the root concealed is And False-hoods and Uncertainties there are In most of those things which we speake or heare Then were not Kings directed by God's hand They who are best and wisest in the Land Might oft misguide them either by receiving A False report or by some wrong-believing God's Grace it is that Good-men rays'd have bin If Sinners flourish we may thanke our Sin Both Good and Bad so like in out-sides be That Kings may be deceiv'd in what they see And if God had not rul'd their Hearts aright The World by this time had been ruin'd quite A Vertue hidden or not us'd Is either Sloth or Grace abus'd CELATA VIRTUS IGNAVIA EST. ILLVSTR. XLVII Book 3 THe World hath shamelesse Boasters who pretend In sundry matters to be skill'd so well That were they pleased so their houres to spend They say they could in many things excell But though they make their hearers to beleeve That out of Modestie their Gifts they hide In them wee very plainely may perceive Or Sloth or Envy Ignorance or Pride When other mens endeavours they peruse They either carpe at what they cannot mend Or else of Arrogance doe those accuse Who to the publike view their Workes commend If these men say that they can Poetize But will not they are false in saying so For he whose Wit a little that way lies Will doing bee though hee himselfe undoe If they in other Faculties are learned And still forbeare their Talents to imploy The truest Knowledge yet is undiscerned And that they merit not which they injoy Yea such as hide the Gifts they have received Or use them not as well as they are able Are like fayre Eyes of usefull sight bereaved Or lighted-Candles underneath a Table Their glorioust part is but a Painted cloath Whose Figures to the wall-ward still are hung Their hidden Vertues are apparant Sloth And all their life is to the publike wrong For they doe reâ—pe the Fruits by many sowne And leave to others nothing of their owne The Moone which is decreasing now When shee returnes will fuller grow REDIBO PLENIOR ILLVSTR. XLVIII Book 3 I Never yet did murmuringly complaine Although those Moones have long been in the Waine Which on their Silver Shields my Elders wore In Battels and in Triumphs heretofore Nor any mention have I ever made Of such Eclipses as those Crescents had Thereby to move some Comet to reflect His fading-light or daigne his good aspect For when I tell the World how ill I fare I tell her too how little I doe care For her despights yea and I tell it not That helpe or pitie might from her be got But rather that her Favourites may see I know my Waynings yet can pleased bee My Light is from the Planet of the Sunne And though the Course which I obliquely runne Oft brings my outward Fortunes to the Waine My Light shall one day bee renew'd againe Yea though to some I quite may seeme to lose My Light because my follies interpose Their shadowes to eclipse it yet I know My Crescents will increase and fuller grow Assoone as in the Flesh I beeing had I mooved on in Courses retrograde And thereby lost my Splendor but I feele Soft motions from that great Eternall Wheele Which mooveth all things sweetly mooving mee To gaine the Place in which I ought to bee And when to Him I backe returne from whom At first I came I shall at Full become Bee warie wheresoo're thou bee For from deceit no place is free NUSQUAM TUTA FIDES ILLVSTR. XLIX Book 3 SOme write but on what grounds I cannot tell That they who neere unto the Deserts dwell Where Elephants are found doe notice take What trees they haunt their sleeping-stocks to make That when they rest against an halfe-sawne stemme It falling may betray those Beasts to them Now though the part Historicall may erre The Morall which this Emblem doth inferre Is overtrue and seemeth to imply The World to bee so full of Treacherie As that no corner of it found can be In which from Falshoods Engines wee are free I have observ'd the Citie and I finde The Citizens are civill grave and kinde Yet many are deluded by their showes And cheated when they trust in them repose I have been oft at Court where I have spent Some idle time to heare them Complement But I have seene in Courtiers such deceit That for their
This is that Skirt which made Alcides mad It is a griefe which I shall never cure Nor flie from whilst my life-time doth endure From thence oh Lord my greatest sorrowes bee And therefore from my Selfe I flie to Thee When Magistrates confined are They revell who were kept in feare CAPTIVUM IMPUNE LACES SUNT ILLVSTR. VII Book 4 A Tyrannous or wicked Magistrat Is fitly represented by a Catt For though the Mice a harmfull vermine bee And Cats the remedie yet oft wee see That by the Mice far lesse some house-wives leese Then when they set the Catt to keepe the Cheese A ravenous Cat will punish in the Mouse The very same Offences in the house Which hee himselfe commits yea for that Vice Which was his owne with praise he kils the Mice And spoyleth not anothers life alone Ev'n for that very fault which was his owne But feeds and fattens in the spoyle of them Whom hee without compassion did condemne Nay worse than so hee cannot bee content To slaughter them who are as innocent As hee himselfe but hee must also play And sport his wofull Pris'ners lives away More torturing them 'twixt fruitlesse hopes and feares Than when their bowels with his teeth he teares For by much terrour and much crueltie Hee kills them ten times over e're they die When such like Magistrates have rule obtain'd The best men wish their powre might be restrain'd But they who shun enormities through Feare Are glad when good-men out of Office are Yea whether Governours bee good or bad Of their displacings wicked-men are glad And when they see them brought into disgraces They boldly play the Knaves before their faces Loe heere is all that hee possest Which once was Victor of the East RESTAT DE VICTORE ORIENTIS ILLVSTR. VIII Book 4 WHen hee who by his conquering Arme possest The rich and spacious Empires of the East Felt his approaching end he bade them beare A Shirt throughout his Armie on a Speare Proclaiming that of all his large estate No more was left him then but only that Perhaps intending thereby to expresse A sorrow for his wilde Ambitiousnesse Or hoping by that Spectacle to give Some good Instructions unto those that live However let it serve us to declare How vaine their toylings and ambitions are Who rob themselves and other men of rest For things that are so little while possest And if that powerfull King could nothing have That was of use to carry to his Grave Of all his conquered Kingdomes but one Shirt Or Winding sheet to hide his Royall durt Why should we pinch and scrape and vext become To heap up Riches for we know not whom Or macerate the Flesh by raising strife For more than will bee usefull during life Nay ev'n for that which sometimes shortens breath And makâ—s us also wretched after Death Let mee oh God! my labour so employ That I a competencie may enjoy I aske no more than may Lifes want supply And leave their aue to others when I die If this thou grant which nothing doubt I can None ever liv'd or dy'd a richer man When Hopes quite frustrate were become The Wither'd-branch did freshly bloome INSPERATA FLORUIT ILLVSTR. IX Book 4 T' is true a wither'd-branch I am and seeme To some as voyd of Hopes as of esteeme For in their judgements I appeare to be A saplesse Bough quite broken from the Tree Ev'n such as that in this our Emblem here And yet I neither feele Despaire nor Feare For I have seene e're now a little Spray Rent from her Stemme lye trodden by the way Three moneths together which when Spring drew on To take an unexpected Root begun Yea grew to bee a Tree and growing stood When those great Groves were fell'd for firing-wood Which once had high esteeme and sprung unhurt While that poore Branch lay sleighted in the durt Nay I have seene such twiggs afford them shade By whom they were the meanest shrippings made Of all the Wood And you may live to see For ought yet knowne some such event in mee And what if all who know mee see me dead Before those hopes begin to spring and spread Have therefore they that hate me cause to boast As if mine expectations I had lost No sure For I who by Faith's eyes have seene Old Aarons wither'd Rod grow fresh and greene And also viewed by the selfe-same Eyes Him whom that Rod most rightly typifies Fall by a shamefull Death and rise in spight Of Death and Shame unto the glorioust height Ev'n I beleeve my Hope shall bee possest And therefore ev'n in Death in Hope I 'le rest True Vertue whatsoere betides In all extreames unmoov'd abides NESCIT LABI VIRTUS ILLVSTR. X. Book 4 WHen in this Emblem here you have espide The shape of a triangled Pyramide And have observed well those mightie Rockes Whose firme foundation bides the dreadfull shockes Of angry Neptune you may thereby see How firmly setled Vertues reall bee For as the raging Seas although they roare Can make no breach upon the Rockie shore And as a true triangled Pyramide Stands fast and shewes alike on ev'ry side So howsoever Fortune turnes or winds Those men which are indow'd with vertuous minds It is impossible to drive them from Those Formes or Stations which those minds become And as the raging Sea with foming threats Against the Rockâ—e-shore but vainely beats So Envie shall in vaine loud blustrings make When vertuous resolutions they would shake For Vertue which receives an overthrow Was Vertue not indeed but in the show So farre am I oh Lord from laying claime To have this Vertue that I doe but ayme At such perfection and can come no nigher As yet than to obtaine it in desire But fixe thou so this weake desire of mine Vpon the Vertues of thy Rocke divine That I and that invaluable Stone May bee incorporated into One And then it will bee neither shame nor pride To say my Vertues will unmov'd abide The motion of the World this day Is mov'd the quite contrarie way HODIE SIC VERTITVR ORBIS ILLVSTR. XI Book 4 WHat was this Figures meaning but to show That as these kinde of Shell-fish backward goe So now the World which here doth seeme to take An arseward Iourney on the Cancer's backe Moves counterwise as if delight it had To runne a race in Courses retrograde And that is very likely to be true Which this our Emblem purposeth to shew For I have now of late not onely seene What backward motions in my Friends have beene And that my outward Fortunes and Affaires Doe of themselves come tumbling downe the staires But I have also found that other things Have got a wheeling in contrary Rings Which Regresse holding on 't is like that wee To Iewes or Ethnicks backe shall turned bee Some punie Clâ—rkes presume that they can teach The ancient holy Doctors how to preach Some Lucks learne their Pastors how to pray Some Parents are compelled to
obay Their Sonnes and so their Dignitie to lose As to be fed and cloth'd at their dispose Nay wee have some who have assay'd to draw All backward to the Bondage of the Law Ev'n to those abrogated Rites and Dayes By which the wandring Iew markes out his wayes And to pursue this Round they are so heady That they have made themselves and others giddy Doe thou these froward Motions LORD restraine And set the World in her due course againe Invincibilitie is there Where Order Strength and Vnion are VIS NESCIA VINCI ILLVSTR. XII Book 4 FRom these well-order'd Arrowes and the Snake This usefull Observation you may make That where an able Prudence doth combine Vnited-forces by good Discipline It maketh up a pow'r exempted from The feare or perill to be overcome And if you covet safetie you will seeke To know this Ward and to acquire the like For doubtlesse neither is it in the force Of iron Charets or of armed Horse In which the King securitie may finde Unlesse the Riders bee well Disciplinde Nor lyes it in the Souldiers common Skill In warlike Postures nor in theirs who drill The Rankes and Fyles to order them aright According as Occasion makes the Fight But men must use a further Prudence too Or else those vulgar-Arts will all undoe For these are onely Sciences injoynd To order well the Body not the Mind And men best train'd in these oft times we see The Hare-brain'dst-fooles in all our Armies bee To strength and skill unite we must therefore A manly Prudence comprehending more Than all these Powr's ev'n such as when shee please To all her ends can use and mannage these And shew us how to cure or to prevent All Hazards or withall to bee content Hee that 's thus arm'd and trusts in God alone May bee oppos'd but conquered of none When thou art shipwrackt in Estate Submit with patience unto Fate QUO FATA TRAHUNT ILLVSTR. XIII Book 4 WHen I beheld this Picture of a Boat Which on the raging Waves doth seeme to float Forc'd onward by the current of the Tide Without the helpe of Anchor Oare or Guide And saw the Motto there which doth imply That shee commits her selfe to Destinie Me thinkes this Emblem sets out their estate Who have ascribed ev'ry thing to Fate And dreame that howsoe're the businesse goe Their Worke nor hinders neither helpes thereto The leaking Ship they value as the sound Hee that 's to hanging borne shall ne're bee drown'd And men to happinesse ordain'd say these May set their Ship to float as Fate shall please This Fancie springing from a mis-beleeving Of God's Decrees and many men deceiving With shewes of Truth both causeth much offence Against God's Mercies and his Providence And brings to passe that some to ruine runne By their neglect of what they might have done For Meanes is to bee us'd if wee desire The blessing of our safetie to acquire Whose naturall effects if God deny Vpon his Providence wee must relye Still practising what naturall aydes may bee Vntill no likely ayd untride wee see And when this Non plus wee are forc'd unto Stand still wee may and wayt what God will do Hee that shall thus to Fate his fortunes leave Let mee bee ruin'd if Shee him deceive The best and fairest House to mee Is that where best I love to bee ΟΙΚΟΣ ΦΙΛΟΣ ΟΙΚΟΣ ΑΡΙΣΤΟΣ ILLVSTR. XIV Book 4 THey are not Houses builded large and high Seel'd all with Gold and pav'd with Porphyrie Hung round with Arras glaz'd with Christall-glasse And cover'd o're with plates of shining Brasse Which are the best but rather those where wee In safetie health and best content may bee And where wee finde though in a meane Estate That portion which maintaines a quiet Fate Here in a homely Cottage thatcht with reed The Peasant seemes as pleasedly to feed As hee that in his Hall or Parlour dines Which Fret-worke Roofes or costly Cedar Lines And with the very same affections too Both to and from it hee doth come and goe The Tortois doubtlesse doth no house-roome lack Although his House will cover but his back And of his Tub the Cynicke seem'd as glad As Alexander was of all hee had When I am setled in a place I love A shrubby hedge-row seemes a goodly Grove My liking maketh Palaces of Sheds And of plaine Couches carved Ivory Beds Yea ev'ry path and pathlesse walke which lies Contemn'd as rude or wilde in others eyes To mee is pleasant not alone in show But truly such For liking makes them so As pleas'd in theirs the Snailes and Cocles dwell As doth a Scallop in his pearly shell For that commends the House which makes it fit To serve their turnes who should have use of it The King his pow'r from God receives For hee alone the Scepter gives DEUS DAT CUI VULT ILLVSTR. XV. Book 4 THe Gift of Kingdomes Children and good-Wives Are three of God's most choice Prerogatives In temp'rall Blessings and of all these three The gifts of Kingdomes his rar'st Favours bee For in five hundred Millions there 's not one Whom this high Honour is conferr'd upon Nor is there any knowne Estate on earth Whereto wee come by Merit or by Birth Which can to any man assurance bring That hee shall either live or die a King The Morning-Starre that 's Heire unto a Crowne Oft sets before the shining-Sunne is downe And some that once a glorious Empire swayd Did lose their Kingdomes e're their heads were layd The greatest earthly Monarch hath no powre To keepe his Throne one minute of an houre Vse all the meanes and policies hee can If God will give it to another man Hee when Belshazzar was in high'st estate His Kingdome to the Persians did translate King Saul and Rehoboam could not stay The Royalties which God would give away And Hee that was the proudest of the rest God changed from a King into a Beast Nor is there any man so meane but hee When God shall please an Emperour may bee Some from the Pot kilâ—e from the Sheep cote some Hee raised hath great Princes to become Yea hee o're heav'n and earth hath rear'd his Throne That was on earth the most despised one Her favours Fortune oft imparts To those that are of no deserts INDIGNUM FORTUNA FOVET ILLVSTR. XVI Book 4 WOuld you not laugh and thinke it beastly fine To see a durtie and ill-favour'd Swine Weare on her snout a Diamond or a Pearle That might become the Ladie of an Earle And hold it head as if it meant to show It were the Pigg of some well-nurtur'd Sow Perhaps you thinke there be not any where Such Antickes but in this our Emblem here But if you take these Charmes and then goe forth Among some troupes which passe for folkes of worth You shall discover quickly if you please A thousand sights as mimicall as these Here you shall see a noble Title worne That had not mis-beseem'd one better borne By
well-doing bee as ready still To give rewards as blowes for doing-ill A Fortune is ordain'd for thee According as thy Labours hee PAR SIT FORTUNA LABORI ILLVSTR. XXXI Book 4 THe Spade for Labour stands The Ball with wings Intendeth flitting rowling-wordly-things This Altar-stone may serve in setting foorth Things firmer sollid and of greater worth In which and by the words inclosing these You theâ—e may read your Fortune if you please If you your Labour on those things bestow Which rowle and flutter alwaies to and fro It cannot be but that which you obtaine Must prove a wavering and unconstant gaine For he that soweth Vanitie shall finde At reaping-time no better fruit then Winde Your houres in serious matters if you spend Or such as to a lasting purpose tend The purchase of your paines will ever last And being you Pleasure when the Labour 's past Yea though in teares your Seed-time you imploy Your Harvest shall be fetched home with ioy If much be wrought much profit will ensue If little but a little meede is due Of nothing nothing comes On evill deedes An evill conscience and ill fame succeedes An honest-life still findes prepared for't Sweet Hopes in Death and after good-report Of Sexe or of Degree there 's no regard But as the Labour such is the reward To worke-aright oh Lord instruct thou mee And grouud my Workes and buildings all on thee That by the fiery Test when they are tride My Worke may stand and I may safe abide Let none in troublous times repine For after Stormes the Sun will shine POST NUBILA PHOEBUS ILLVSTR. XXXII Book 4 DIscourage not your selves although you see The weather blacke and stormes prolonged be What though it fiercely raines and thunders loud Behold there is a Raine-bow in the Cloud Wherein a trustfull promise may be found That quite your little-worlds shall not be drown'd The Sun-shine through the foggy mists appeare The lowring Skie begins againe to cleare And though the Tempest yet your eyes affright Faire weather may befall you long ere night Such comfort speakes our Emblem unto those Whom stormie Persecution doth enclose And comforts him that 's for the present sad With hopes that better seasons may bee had There is nor trouble sorrow nor distresse But mitigation hath or some release Long use or time the storme away will turne Else Patience makes it better to be borne Yea sorrowes lowring dayes will come and goe As well as prosp'rous houres of Sunshine doe And when ' t is past the paine that went before Will make the following pleasure seeme the more For hee hath promis'd whom we may beleeve His blessing unto those that mourne and grieve And that though sorrow much dejects their head In ev'ry need wee shall be comforted This promise I beleeve in ev'ry griefe Performe it Lord and helpe my unbeliefe So others viewing how thou cheerest mee Shall in all sorrowes put their trust in thee For whatsoever Man doth strive The Conquest God alone doth give OMNIS VICTORIA A DOMINO ILLVSTR. XXXIII Book 4 WHen on the Sword the Olive-branch attends That is when bloody Warres have peacefull Ends And whensoever Victories are gained This Emblem shewes by whom they are obtained For that all Victorie doth onely from The pow'rfull hand of God-Almightie come The Boughes of Bayes and Olives doe declare Which round the Tetragrammatan appeare Nor must we thinke that God bestowes alone The Victories of Warre on any one But that when we contend in other things From him th' event that 's wisht for also springs This being so how dare wee by the Lawes Or by the Sword pursue a wicked Cause How dare wee bring a matter that 's unjust Where hee though few perceive him judge it must Or prosecute with fury or despite Against the person of his Favourite What Fooles are they who seeke the Conquest by Oppression Fraud or hellish Perjurie How mad are those who to the Warres prepare For nothing but to spoyle and murther there Who nor ingag'd by Faith to their Alies Nor urg'd by any private injuries Nor sent nor tolerated by their Prince Nor caring whether side hath giv'n offence Run rambling through the World to kill and slay Like needie Butchers for two groats a day These men may side where Conquests God bestowes Yet when the Field is wonne these men doe lose Since overmuch will over-fill Powre out enough but doe not spill NE QUID NIMIS ILLVSTR. XXXIV Book 4 IT is this Emblems meaning to advance The love and practise of true Temperance For by this Figure which doth seeme to fill Vntill the liquor overflow and spill Wee are as by example taught to see How fruitlesse our Intemperancies bee Thus by the Rule of Contrarieties Some Vertues best are showne to vulgar eyes To see nastie Drunkard reele and spew More moves to Sobernesse than can the view Of tweatie civill men and to behold One Prodigall that goodly lands hath sold Stand torne and louzie begging at the dore Would make Intemperance abhorred more And manly Sobernesse much better each Than all that sixe Philosophers can preach So by the Vessels overflowing here True Moderation doth more prais'd appeare Than by the meane it selfe And without sinne That 's pictur'd which to doe had wicked bin For though to vertuous ends wee doe deny The Doing-ill that Good may come thereby From hence let us be taught that carefull heed Whereby wee should both Minde and Bodie feed Let us of our owne selves observe the size How much wee want how little will suffize And our owne longings rather leave unfill'd Than suffer any portion to bee spill'd For what we marre shall to account be layd And what wee wisely spend shall be repayd They passe through many stormes and streights Who rise to any glorious heights PER ANGUSTA AD AUGUSTA ILLVSTR. XXXV Book 4 THis Tree which here doth largely seeme to grow And spreads above though streightned in below Through adverse Winds and many a Winters blast Hath gain'd a faire proportion at the last And from a lowly shrub is growne to bee A well-esteemed and a goodly Tree Thus hath it chanced unto many a man And he that first in misery began So poore and meane that very few or none Have judg'd him to be worth the looking on Ev'n he through scornes through wrongs and povertie Hath crept and screw'd and rais'd himselfe so high That he hath placed been among the prime Of those who seem'd the Worthies of the time Yea overtopt and aw'd the best of those Who sought to curbe him when he first arose This I have seene And as wee seldome find A Tree grow faire that cannot brooke the Wind Or must be hous'd at Winter or on whom The Gardners pruning-knife did never come So I have rarely knowne those men to rise To any good or noble qualities Who feele not first some hardship or some storme To prune to discipline and to reforme Their wits and manners For prosperitie Ease
31.74.251 States-men 15 Steresman 37 Stedfastnesse vid. Constancy Stewes 27 Storke 149.155 Strength 80.103.136 Students 15 Studiousnesse 146 Suffering 23.47.81.171.232 Sufficiencie 86 Sunnshine after stormes 240 Swearing 38. Swine 38.110 Sword 66.137.163.238.245 T. TAlents hidden 76.181 A Tatler 246. Tennis-ball 16 Terrene pompe 98 Temperance 169.242 Terminus 161 Theeves 167 Thisbe 33 Time 4.102.157.212.235 257 Titles ill placed 224. Tongue 42 Tortois 86 Touchstone 229 Transitorie things 85 Triall 30 Trie e're thou trust 84.233 Truth 172 Turtle vid. Dove V. VAnitie of earthly things 98 Vaine hopes 69 Vaine shewes 20 Vengeance 66 Vertue 1. â— 6.22.30.88.97.101.109.111.139.171.218 Vice 22.104.224 Victorie uncertaine 252 Victorie is of God 241. Viper 247 Vnanimitie 67 Vnchastitie 15 Vnitie 67.177 Vnitie of faith 244 Vniversall Grace 210.258 Vnprofitable gifts 76 Vprightnesse of heart 91 W. VVAnton women 7 Warre 90 238 Wast 35 Wearinesse 9.84.153 Watchfulnesse 79 Watchmen 149 Way of Vertue 160 Weapons â—41 Wealth 68.166 Weights 110. Welldoing 135 Weaknesse needes a suporter 222 Wisedome 1.2 31.103.142.145 Witt 1 64.136.167 Wives 172 Whoredome 27 Whore vid. Harlot Woods decayed 35 Woman 93.231 World goes backeward 219. Y. YOuth 22.44 A Supersedeas to all them whose custome it is without any deserving to importune Authors to give unto them their Bookes It merits nor your Anger nor my Blame That thus I have inscrib'd this Epigram For they who know me know that Bookes thus large And fraught with Emblems do augment the Charge Too much above my Fortunes to afford A Gift so costly for an Aierie-word And I have prov'd your Bigging Qualitie So forward to oppresse my Modestie That for my future ease it seemeth fit To take some Order for preventing it And peradventure other Authors may Find Cause to thanke me for 't another day These many years it hath your Custom bin That when in my possession you have seene A Volume of mine owne you did no more But Aske and Take As if you thought my store Encreast without my Cost And that by Giving Both Paines and Charges too I got my living Or that I find the Paper and the Printing a As easie to me as the Bookes Inventing If of my Studies no esteeme you have You then abuse the Courtesies you crave And are Vnthankfull If you prize them ought Why should my Labour not enough be thought Vnlesse I adde Expences to my paines The Stationer affoords for little Gaines The Bookes you crave And He aswell as I Might give away what you repine to buy For what hee Gives doth onely Mony Cost â—et mine both Mony Time and Wit is lost What I shall Give and what I have bestow'd Oâ— Friends to whom I Love or Service ow'd I prudge not And I thinke it is from them Sufficient that such Gifts they do esteeme Yea and it is a Favour too when they Will take these Tristles my large Dues to pay Or Aske them at my hands when I forget That I am to their Love so much in debt But this inferres not that I should bestow 〈◊〉 like on all men who my Name do know 〈◊〉 have the Face to aske For then I might Of Wit and Mony soone be begger'd quite So much already hath beene Beg'd away Fâ—r which I neither had nor looke for pay As 〈◊〉 valu'd at the common Rate 〈…〉 hundred Crownes in my Estate Which if I may confesse it signifies That I was same more Liberall than Wise But for the time to come resolv'd I am That till without deny all or just blame I may of those who Cloth and Clothes do make As oft as I shall need them Aske and Take You shall no more befoole me Therfore 〈◊〉 Be Answer'd And henceforward 〈…〉 A Direction shewing how they who are so â—isposed shall 〈◊〉 out their Chance in the 〈…〉 TUrne aboâ—t one of the 〈…〉 thâ— Figures which are in the following Page 〈…〉 your eyes thereupon to observe where it slayeth 〈…〉 If it be the upper Figure whose Index you moved then that Number whereupon it resteth is the number of your Lot or Blancke This being knowne move the other Index in like manner and that Quarter of the said Figure whereon the same standeth when your hand is taken away shew 〈◊〉 which of the foure Bookes or Lotteries that Chance is to be expected whereunto your Number doth send you whether it be Lot or Blancke If it be any Number above Fifty it is a Blancke Chance and you are to looke no further If it be any of the other Numbers it sends you to the Emblem answering to the same Number in the Booke next before the time Lotterie If the letter M. be placâ—d before the alotted Number then that Lot is proper onely to a 〈…〉 stand before it it is proper onely to a Woman If there be 〈…〉 it 〈◊〉 to both Sexes And therefore when a 〈…〉 on a Chance impertinet to their proper Sex◠〈…〉 to take the next Chance which pertaineth properly 〈…〉 it be Blancke or Lot the triall whereof I have that 〈◊〉 without the use of Dice 〈◊〉 by bringing them into fight they might sometimes occasion worse Gaming If King Queene Prince or any one that springs From Persons knowne to be deriv'd from Kings Shall seeke for Sport sake hence to draw their Lot 〈◊〉 Author sayes that hee provided not 〈◊〉 such 〈◊〉 those Because it were too much 〈…〉 we find ouâ— Fortunes fit for such 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 thinkes should rather Ayde supply 〈…〉 his evill Fortunes by To them 〈◊〉 therefore pâ—â—sed is to give 〈◊〉 and this large Prerogative 〈◊〉 thy shall châ—sâ— from hence what Lots they please 〈…〉 theâ—◠〈◊〉 if they like not these 〈…〉 Personages of High degree â—panâ— professe our Authors friends 〈◊〉 be 〈…〉 some blemise have that â—ill they find 〈…〉 to their mind 〈…〉 to try 〈…〉 And ev'rytime apply 〈…〉 thâ—se 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 WEST 3. Booke NORTH 4. Booke SOVTH 2. Booke EAST 1. Booke
by Vertue and Deserts to clime Poore Heights they be which Fortune reares unto And fickle is the Favour she bestowes To-day she makes to-morrow doth undoe Builds up and in an instant overthrowes On easie Wheeles to Wealth and Honours high She windes men oft before they be aware And when they dreame of most Prosperitie Downe headlong throwes them lower then they were You then that seeké a more assur'd estate On good and honest Objects fixe your Minde And follow Vertue that you may a Fate Exempt from feare of Change or Dangers finde For he that 's Vertuous whether high or low His Fortune seemes or whether foule or faire His Path he findes or whether friend or foe The World doth prove regards it not a haire His Losse is Gaine his Poverty is Wealth The Worlds Contempt he makes his Diadem In Sicknesse he rejoyceth as in Health Yea Death it selfe becommeth Life to him He feares no disrespect no bitter scorne Nor subtile plottings nor Oppressions force Nay though the World should topsie-turvie turne It cannot fright him nor divert his Course Above all Earthly powres his Vertue reares him And up with Eglets wings to Heav'n it beares him A fickle Woman wanton growne Preferres a Crowd before a Crowne NON SCEPTRO SED PLECTRO DVCITVR ILLVSTR. VII Book 1. FOole Dost thou hope thine Honours or thy Gold Shall gaine thee Love Or that thou hast her heart Whose hand upon thy tempting Bayâ— layes hold Alas fond Lover thou deceived art She that with Wealth and Titles can be wonne Or woo'd with Vanities will way ring bee And when her Love thou most dependest on A Fiddle-sticke shall winne her heart from thee To Youth and Musicke Venus leaneth most And though her hand she on the Scepter lay Let Greatnesse of her Favours never boast For Heart and Eye are bent another way And lo no glorious Purchace that Man gets Who hath with such poore Trifles woo'd and wonne Her footing on a Ball his Mistresse sets Which in a moment slips and she is gone A Woman meerely with an Out side caught Or tempted with a Galliard or a Song Will him forsake whom she most lovely thought For Players and for Tumblers ere 't be long You then that wish your Love should ever last And would enjoy Affection without changing Love where your Loves may worthily be placâ—t And keepe your owne Affection still from ranging Vse noble Meanes your Longings to attaine Seeke equall Mindes and well beseeming Yeares They are at best vaine Fooles whom Follie gaine But there is Blisse where Vertue most endeares And wheresoe're Affection shee procures In spight of all Temptations it endures This Ragge of Death which thou shalt see Consider it And Pious bee IN HVNC INTVENS PIVS ESTO ILLVSTR. VIII Book I. WHy silly Man so much admirest thou Thy present Fortune overvaluing so Thy Person or the beauty of thy Brow And Cloth'd so proudly wherefore dost thou goe Why dost thou live in riotous Excesse And Boast as if thy Flesh immortall were Why dost thou gather so Why so oppresse And o're thy Fellow-creatures Domineere Behold this Emblem such a thing was hee Whom this doth represent as now thou art And such a Fleshlesse Raw-bone shalt thou bee Though yet thou seeme to act a comelier part Observe it well and marke what Vglinesse Stares through the sightlesse Eye holes from within Note those leane Craggs and with what Gastlinesse That horrid Countenance doth seeme to grin Yea view it well and having seene the same Plucke downe that Pride which puffs thy heart so high Of thy Proportion boast not and for shame Repent thee of thy sinfull Vanity And having learn'd that all men must become Such bare Anatomies and how this Fate No mortall Powre nor Wit can keepe thee from Live so that Death may better thy estate Consider who created thee and why Renew thy Spirit ere thy Flesh decayes More Pious grow Affect more Honestie And seeke hereafter thy Creatours praise So though of Breath and Beauty Time deprive thee New Life with endlesse Glorie God will give thee Before thou bring thy Workes to Light Consider on them in the Night IN NOCTE CONSILIVÌ„ ILLVSTR. IX Book 1. AN Owle the Hieroglyphicke us'd for Night Twixt Mercury and Pallas here takes place Vpon a crown'd Caduceus fixt upright And each a Cornucopia doth imbrace Through which darke Emblem I this Light perceive That such as would the Wit and Wealth acquire Which may the Crowne of approbation have Must wake by Night to compasse their desire For this Mercurian-Wand doth Wit expresse The Cornu-copia Wealthinesse implies Both gained by a studious Watchfulnesse Which here the Bird of Athens signifies Nor by this Emblem are we taught alone That when great Vndertakings are intended We Sloth and lumpish Drowsinesse must shunne But Rashnesse also here is reprehended Take Counsell of thy Pillow saith our Sawe And ere in waighty Matters thou proceede Consider well upon them lest they draw Some Afterclaps which may thy Mischiefe breede I for my seriou'st Muses chuse the Night More friend to Meditation then the Day That neither Noyse nor Objects of the Sight Nor bus'nesses withdraw my Thoughts away By Night we best may ruminate upon Our Purposes Then best we may enquire What Actions wee amisse or well have done And then may best into our Selves retire For of the World-without when most we see Then blindest to the World-within are wee An Innocent no Danger feares How great soever it appeares SPERNIT PERICULA VIRTUS ILLVSTR. X. Book I. WHen some did seeke Arion to have drown'd He with a dreadlesse heart his Temples crown'd And when to drench him in the Seas they meant He playd on his melodious Instrument To shew that Innocence disdayned Feare Though to be swallow'd in the Deeps it were Nor did it perish For upon her Backe A Dolphin tooke him for his Musick 's sake To intimate that Vertue shall prevaile With Bruitish Creatures if with Men it faile Most vaine is then their Hope who dreame they can Make wretched or undoe an Honest-Man For he whom Vertuous Innocence adornes Insults o're Cruelties and Perill scornes Yea that by which Men purpose to undoe him In their despight shall bring great Honours to him Arion-like the Malice of the World Hath into Seas of Troubles often hurl'd Deserving Men although no Cause they had But that their Words and Workes sweet Musicke made Of all their outward Helps it hath bereft them Nor means nor hopes of Comfort have beene left them But such as in the House of Mourning are And what Good-Conscience can afford them there Yet Dolphin-like their Innocence hath rear'd Their Heads above those Dangers that appear'd God hath vouchsaf'd their harmelesse Cause to heed And ev'n in Thraldome so their Hearts hath freed That whil'st they seem'd oppressed and forlorne They Ioyd and Sung and Laugh'd the World to scorne When thou a Dangerous-Way dost goe Walke surely though thy pace be slowe AD SCOPVM