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
CERVVS ERIT ILLVSTR. L. Book 1. AMong the many Faylings of the Time This Emblem giveth Cause to mention one Which unto me doth seeme the greater Crime Because to many it appeareth none I finde that petty things are so neglected Well nigh of all in Losings and in Winnings As if what ere they thought to have effected Subsisted without Members or Beginnings The Man that loseth every Month a Penny May salve-up Twelve-months Losses with a Shilling But if of other Losses he hath many To save a Pin at length he shall be willing For he that sees his Wine-fill'd Vessell drop Although a Drop in value be but small Should thence Occasion take the Leake to stop Lest many Droppings draine him drye of all Moreover they that will to Greatnesse rise A Course not much unlike to this must keepe They ought not Small-Beginnings to despise Nor strive to runne before they learne to creepe By many single Eares together brought The Hand is fill'd by Handfulls we may gaine A Sheafe with many Sheaves a Barne is fraught Thus oft by Little we doe much obtaine Consider this And though I wish not thee To take of Trifling-things too great a care Yet know thus much for truth it best will bee If all things may be weighed as they are By slender Losses great-ones are begunne By many trifling Gaines much Wealth is wonne FINIS Libri primi THE FIRST LOTTERIE 1 THou dost overmuch respect That which will thy harme effect But some other things there bee Which will more advantage thee Search thy heart and thou shalt there Soone discover what they are Yea thine Emblem showes thee too What to shunne and what to doe 2 It is a little fear'd that you Are to your owne Designes untrue And that if you more constant were You would be richer then you are It may be also wiser too Looke therefore what you are to doe Then follow it and you will say That well advis'd you were to day 3 How rich or poore soe're thou be Thou art a Prince in some degree And o're thy selfe thou shouldst command As doth a Monarch in his Land Within thy Heart therefore ingrave The Lawes that Grace and Nature gave For thus to counsell thee inclines That Emblem which thy Lot assignes 4 Much Liberty thou hast assum'd And heretofore so much presum'd On Time which alway rideth poast That for awhile some Hopes are crost But loe to keepe thee from Despaire And thy Misfortune to repaire Marke what to thee by Lot befell And practise what is counsell'd well 5 Thou seekest Honour to obtaine By meanes which frustrate all thy paine Thy Predecessors rich were made By using of the Plough and Spade Thou honourable wouldst be thought By taking Courses that are naught But if right noble thou wilt be Looke what thine Emblem counsells thee M 6 This Man what ever he may seeme Is worthy of a high esteeme Though Fortune may his person grinde She cannot harme him in his Minde Right blest this Company would be If all of them were such as He. Reade that Impresa which he drew For that in part the same will shew M 7 If some now present this had got They would have blushed at their Lot Since very fit the same doth prove For one that 's either light of Love Or troubled with a fickle Mate If you enjoy a better Fate Yet hearken what your Lot doth say Lest you hereafter need it may 8 For ought that plainely doth appeare You may out-live the longest here Yet seeing now of all this crew The Lot of Death you onely drew See what your Emblem hath injoyn'd And still that Morall beare in minde So Deaths deform'd and ghastly Shade Shall Meanes of Life to thee be made 9 Though you have Wit and know it well That rash you are your Friends can tell Yea Sleepe and Ease possesse you so That some doe feare you 'l sottish grow But lo your hind'rance to prevent This Lot was peradventure sent For in the Moralls that insue Are Counsells fit for such as you 10 You have beene wronged many wayes Yet patient are and that 's your praise Your Actions also seem'd upright Yet some there are that beare you spite Lest therefore you discourag'd grow An Emblem you have drawne to show What other Innocents have borne And how the worlds despites to scorne M 11 Doubtlesse you are either wooing Or some other Bus'nesse doing Which you shall attempt in vaine Or much hazzard all your paine Yet if good your meanings are Doe not honest meanes forbeare For where things are well begunne God oft workes when Man hath done 12 Be not angry if I tell That you love the World too well For this Lot perhaps you drew That such Faults you might eschew Marke to what their Soules aspire Who true Blessednesse desire For if you can doe like those Heav'n you gaine when Earth you lose 13 You love the Rich and honour them The needy person you contemne Yet Wealth nor want of Wealth is that Which wretched makes or fortunate From other Causes those things flow Which since you either doe not know Or heede not much this Emblem came That you might learne to minde the same M 14 Thy Chance is doubtfull and as yet I know not what to say of it But this I know a foe thou art To what thine Emblem hath in part Expressed by a Mimicke Shape Or thou thy selfe art such an Ape Now which of these pertaines to thee Let them that know thee Iudges bee 15 Thy Vertues he may wrong that sayes Thou spend'st thy selfe in wanton wayes But some have thought and sayd of late That those thou lov'st consume thy state Yet spare nor Time nor Substance tho Where them thou oughtest to bestow But to thine Emblem turne and see When Life and Wealth well ventur'd bee 16 Though Troubles you may have or had Enough to make some others mad Yet be content for they that are As weake have had as much to beare And that which Malice did contrive To make them poore hath made them thrive That Emblem which by Lot you drew Prognosticates as much for you 17 Though you suffer blame and paine You at last may Comfort gaine Sharing Honours truely gotten When your Foes are dead and rotten For of this you have a pawne In the Lot that you have drawne And by that it may appeare What your paines and wages are 18 Take you serious heed I pray Whither you doe goe to day Whom you credite and for whom You ingaged shall become And unlesse you wish for Sorrow Be as provident to morrow For there are some traps and Snares Which may take you unawares 19 Your Wit so much you trust upon That weaker Meanes hath yours out-gone Sometime you runne when there is need Of much more Warinesse then Speed But you to God ward worse have err'd And yet Amendment is deferr'd
thither more people from the remote Hamlets than would else be there Now though I praise not their Devotion yet I am glad if any thing which is not evill in it selfe may be made an occasion of Good because those things may perhaps be continued at last for Conscience sake which were at first begunne upon vaine occasions and have therefore added Lotteries to these Emblems to occasion the more frequent notice of the Morals and good Counsels tendred in their Illustrations hoping that at one time or other some shall draw those Lots which will make them the better and the happier whilest they live I confesse that this Devise may probably be censured as unsutable to the gravitie expected in my ripe yeares and be reputed as great an Indecorum as erecting an Ale-house at the Church-stile yet the same having had beginning in my younger dayes I do now resolve not to be ashamed of it for the Reasons aforementioned To such as I was it will be someway avayleable and perhaps if the Wisest did otherwhile when they walke abroad to Vncertaine purposes take up this Booke and without Superstitious Conceites make tryall what their Lots would remember or give them cause to thinke on It might now and then either occasion better Proceedings or prevent Mischieves Some Games were ever in use ever I thinke will be and for ought I know ever may be without exception And I believe this Recreation will be as harmlesse as any if it be used according to my Intentions For my meaning is not that any should use it as an Oracle which could signifie infallibly what is divinely alloted but to serve onely for a Morall Pastime And that I may no way encourage the secret entertaining of such a Fantasie I doe before hand affirme unto them that none but Children or Ideots may be tollerated to be so foolish without laughing at Yet if any one shall draw that Lot wherein his Secret vices are reproved or some good Counsels proposed which in his owne understanding are pertinent to his welfare let not such as those passe them over as meere Casualties to them for whatsoever these Lots are to others or in themselves they are to all these made pertinent in such cases both by their particular Knowledges and Occasions Some will thinke perhaps that I have purposely invented this Game that I might finde meanes to reprove mens vices without being suspected as I have hitherto unjustly beene to 〈◊〉 at particular persons For if any who are notoriously Guiltie shall by drawing their Chances among other Companions be 〈◊〉 with Lots which may now and then happen that those Vices be therby intimated to the by stanâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 them guilty they do 〈◊〉 with 〈…〉 bee 〈◊〉 at without my 〈…〉 such 〈◊〉 are worthily suspected 〈…〉 â—â—andalous conversations either forbeare 〈…〉 excusâ—â—â—â— of they be justly shamâ—d by their 〈◊〉 Having thus 〈◊〉 thâ—â—eason of this Inventioâ— and made these 〈…〉 every man hath his 〈◊〉 whether hee will make 〈…〉 or no hee thâ—t will is left to his 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 how hee shall make tryall direction is given in the 〈◊〉 Pages of this Booke This Game occasions not the frequent crime Of Swearing or mispending of our Time Nor losse of money For the Play is short And ev'ry Gamester winneth by the sport Wee therefore know it may aswell become The Hall the Parlor or the Diâ—ing roome As Chesse or Tables and we thinke the Prâ—â—e Will be as low because it needs no Dice What I WAS is passed by What I AM away doth flie What I SHAL BEE none do see Yet in that my Beauties bee The AVTHORS Meditation upon sight of his PICTVRE VVHen I behold my Picture and perceive How vaine it is our Portraitures to leave In Lines and Shadowes which make shewes to day Of that which will to morrow fade away And thinke what meane Resemblances at best Are by Mechanike Instruments exprest I thought it better much to leave behind me Some Draught in which my living friends might find me The same I am in that which will remaine Till all is ruin'd and repair'd againe And which in absence will more truely show me Than outward Formes to those who think they know me For though my gratious MAKER made me such That where I love belov'd I am as much As J desire yet Forme nor Features are Those Ornaments in which J would appeare To future Times Though they were found in me Farre better than I can beleeve they be Much lesse affect I that which each man knowes To be no more but Counterfeits of those Wherein the Painters or the Gravers toole Befriends alike the Wiseman and the Foole And when they please can give him by their Art The fairest-Face that had the falsest-Heart A PICTVRE though with most exactnesse made Is nothing but the Shadow of a SHADE For ev'n our living Bodies though they seeme To others more or more in our esteeme Are but the shadowes of that Reall-being Which doth extend beyond the Fleshly-seeing And cannot be discerned till we rise Immortall-Objects for Immortall-eyes Our Everlasting-Substance lies unseene Behinde the Fouldings of a Carnall-Screene Which is but Vapours thickned into Blood By due concoction of our daily food And still supplied out of other Creatures To keepe us living by their wasted natures Renewing and decaying ev'ry Day Vntill that Vaile must be remov'd away For this lov'd Flesh wherewith yet cloth'd we go Is not the same wee had sev'n yeares ago But rather something which is taken-in To serve insteed of what hath wasted bin In Wounds in Sicknesses in Colds and Heates In all Excrescions and in Fumes and Sweates Nor shall this present Flesh long stay with us And wee may well be pleas'd it should be Thus. For as I view those Townes and Fields that be In Landskip drawne Even so me thinks I see A Glimpes farre off through FAITH'S Prospective glasse Of that which after Death will come to passe And likewise gained have such meanes of seeing Some things which were before my Life had being That in my Soule I should be discontent If this my Body were more permanent Since Wee and all God's other Creatures here Are but the Pictures of what shall appeare Yet whilst they are I thankfully would make That use of them for their CREATOR'S sake To which hee made them and preserve the Table Still Faire and Full asmuch as I were able By finishing in my alotted place Those Workes for which hee fits me by his Grace And if a Wrenne a Wrenn's just height shall soare No Aegle for an Aegle can doe more If therefore of my Labours or of MEE Ought shall remaine when I remov'd must be Let it be that wherein it may be view'd My MAKERS Image was in me renew'd And so declare a dutifull intent To doe the Worke I came for e're I went That I to others may some Patterne be Of Doing-well as other men to mee Have beene whilst I had life And let my
my Flesh my Time and my Estate Be so consum'd so spent so wasted bee That they may nourish Grace and peâ—fit that For which all these were first bestowd'd on me So when I quite am vanish'd out of seeing I shall enjoy my Now-concealed-Being When to suppresse us Men intend They make us higher to ascend CONCVSSVS SVRGO ILLVSTR. XVI Book 1. WHen we observe the Ball how to and fro The Gamesters force it we may ponder thus That whil'st we live we shall be playd with so And that the World will make her Game of us Adversities one while our hearts constraine To stoope and knock the Pavements of Despaire Hope like a Whirle-wind mounts us up againe Till oft it lose us in the empty ayre Sometimes above the Battlements we looke Sometimes we quite below the Line are tost Another-while against the Hazard strooke We but a little want of being lost Detraction Envie Mischief and Despight One Partie make and watchfully attend To catch us when we rise to any Height Lest we above their hatred should ascend Good-Fortune Praises Hopes and Industries Doe side-together and make Play to please us But when by them we thinke more high to rise More great they make our Fall and more disease us Yea they that seeke our Losse advance our Gaine And to our Wishes bring us oft the nigher For we that else upon the Ground had laine Are by their striking of us lifted higher When Balls against the Stones are hardest throwne Then highest up into the Aire they fly So when men hurle us with most fury downe Wee hopefull are to be advanc'd thereby And when they smite us quite unto the Ground Then up to Heav'n we trust we shall rebound Till God hath wrought us to his Will The Hammer we shall suffer still DVM EXTENDAR ILLVSTR. XVII Book 1. WHy should the foolish World discourage Men In just endurances or bid them shunne Good Actions ' cause they suffer now and then For Doing well as if some Ill were done Ere Plates extended are they must abide A thousand hamm'rings And then that which fill'd So little roome it scarce your Hand could hide Will serve a goodly Monument to gild So he that hopes to winne an honest Name Must many blowes of Fortune undergoe And hazard oft the blast of Evill-Fame Before a Good-Report her Trumpe will blow A thousand Worthies had unworthily Been raked up in Ashes and in Clay Vnknowne and bury'd in Obscurity If Malice had not fil'd their Rust away But loâ— their lasting prayses now are spread And rais'd by Adverse-Chance to such a height That they most glorious are now they are dead And live in Injuries and Deaths despight For by Afflictions man refined growes And as the Gold prepared in the Fire Receiveth such a Forme by wrongs and blowes That hee becomes the Iewell we desire To thee therefore Oh God! Mv Prayers are Not to be freed from Griefes and Troubles quite But that they may be such as I can beare And serve to make me precious in thy Sight This please me shall though all my Life time I Betweene thine Anvill and the Hammer lie From thence where Nets and Snares are layd Make-hast lest els you be betray'd MATVRA ILLVSTR. XVIII Book 1. THe nimble Spider from his Entrailes drawes A suttle Thread and curious art doth show In weaving Nets not much unlike those Lawes Which catch Small-Thieves and let the Great-ones goe For as the Cob-web takes the lesser Flyes When those of larger size breake through their Snares So Poore men smart for little Injuries When Rich-men scape whose Guilt is more then theirs The Spider also representeth such Who very curious are in Trifling things And neither Cost nor Time nor Labour grutch In that which neither Gaine nor Pleasure brings But those whom here that Creature doth implye Are chiefely such who under cunning shewes Of simple-Meanings or of Curtesie Doe silly Men unwarily abuse Or else it meanes those greedy Cormorants Who without touch of Conscience or Compassion Seeke how to be enricht by others wants And bring the Poore to utter Desolation Avoyd them therefore though compell'd by need Or if a Storme inforce yee lab'ring Bees That yee must fall among them Flie with speed From their Commerce when Calmes your passage frees Much more let wastfull Gallants haste from these Else when those Idling-painted Butterflies Have flutter'd-out their Summer-time in ease And spent their Wealth in foolish Vanities The Blasts of Want may force them to be brought For shelter thither where they shall be caught When thou a Dangerous-Way dost goe Walke surely though thy pace be slowe LENTE SED ATTENTE ILLVSTR. XXI 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 sought 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 A Sive of shelter maketh show But ev'ry Storme will through it goe TRANSEAT ILLVSTR. XX. Book 1. SOme Men when for their Actions they procure A likely colour be it nere so vaine Proceede as if their Projects were as sure As when Sound Reason did their Course maintayne And these not much unlike those Children are Who through a Storme advent'ring desp'rately Had rather on their Heads a Sive to beare Then Cov'rings that may serve to keepe them drye For at a distance that perchance is thought A helpfull Shelter and yet proves to those Who neede the same a Toy which profits nought Because each drop of Raâ—ne quite through it goes So they whose foolish Projects for a while Doe promise their Projectors hopefull ends Shall finde them in the Tryall to beguile And that both Shame and Want on them attends Such like is their estate who to appeare Rich-men to others doe with Inward-payne A gladsome out-ward Port desire to
And round about encircled with a Snake The Childe so pictur'd was to signifie That from our very Birth our Dying springs The Snake her Tatle devouring doth implie The Revolution of all Earthly things For whatsoever hath beginning here Beginnes immediately to vary from The same it was and doth at last appeare What very few did thinke it should become The solid Stone doth molder into Earth That Earth e're long to Water rarifies That Water gives an Airy Vapour birth And thence a Fiery-Comet doth arise That moves untill it selfe it so impaire That from a burning-Meteor backe againe It sinketh downe and thickens into Aire That Aire becomes a Cloud then Drops of Raine Those Drops descending on a Rocky Ground There settle into Earth which more and more Doâ—h harden still so running out the round It growes to be the Stone it was before Thus All things wheele about and each Beginning Made entrance to it owne Destruction hath The Life of Nature entreth in with Sinning And is for ever wayted on by Death The Life of Grace is form'd by Death to Sinne And there doth Life-eternall straight beginne Though very small at first it be A Sprout at length becomes a Tree TANDEM FIT ARBOR ILLVSTR. XLVI Book 1. WEe finde it common but not comely thou That when a good Endeavour is begot Vnlesse at very first it equall grow With our Expectance we regard it not Nor Wit nor Patience have we to conceive That ev'ry thing which may by Man be wrought Proportionable Time and Meanes must have Before it can be to Perfection brought Yet ev'ry day in things of ev'ry kinde Experience hath informed us herein And that in many things a change we finde Which at the first would scarce believ'd have bin For though a Gosling will not prove a Swan Vnruely-Colts become well-trayned Steeds A Silly Childe growes up a Mighty-Man And Lofty-Trees doe Spring from Little Seeds Learne therefore hence that nothing you despise Because it may at first imperfâ—ct seeme And know how all things in some sort to prise Although you give them not the best esteeme From hence moreover learne not to despaire When you have just occasion to pursue A toylesome worke or any great affaire Since all-things at the first from nothing grew And I my selfe will also learne from hence Of all my Paines though little fruits I see Nor to repine nor to receive Offence But rather joy in what befalleth mee For though my Hopes appeare but meanely growne They will be Great when some shall thinke them none When we above the Crosse can rise A Crowne for us prepared lies SVPERATA CRVCE CORONOR ILLVSTR. XLVII Book 1. A Serpent rais'd above the Letter Tau Aspiring to a Crowne is figur'd here From whence a Christian-Morall we may draw Which worth our good-regarding will appeare For by those Characters in briefe I see Which Way we must to Happinesse ascend Then by what Meanes that Path must clymed bee And what Reward shall thereupon attend The Crosse doth shew that Suffring is the Way The Serpent seemes to teach me that if I Will overcome I must not then assay To force it but my selfe thereto applye For by embracing what we shall not shunne We winde about the Crosse till wee arise Above the same and then what Prize is wonne The Crowne which overtops it signifies Let me O God obtaine from thee the Grace To be partaker of thy Blessed Passion Let me with Willingnesse thy Crosse imbrace And share the Comforts of thy Exaltation To beare that Part whereto I doomed am My Heart with Strength and Courage Lord inspire Then Crucifie my Flesh upon the same As much as my Corruption shall require And when by thy Assistance I am rear'd Above that Burthen which lyes yet upon me And over all which justly may be fear'd Shall during Life-time be inflicted on me Among those Blessed-Soules let me be found Which with eternall Glory shall be Crown'd In Death no Difference is made Betweene the Scepter and the Spade MORS SCEPTRA LIGONIBUS AEQVAT ILLVSTR. XLVIII Book 1. LEt no man be so sottish as to dreame Though all Men in their Déath made equall are That therfore they may gather by this Theame That Parity in Life-time fitting were For as the Bodies Members which in Death Have all the like esteeme had their Degrees And Honours differing in time of breath The same in States Discretion comely sees Nor should we hence inferre that it were just To disesteeme the breathlesse Carcasses Of Kings and Princes when they sleepe in Dust For Civill-Reverence is due to these Nor ought we in their Life-time to apply The Truth which by this Emblem is declar'd The Dignities of Men to vilifie Or bring upon their Persons lesse regard That which from hence I rather wish to preach Is this that ev'ry Man of each degree Would marke it so that he himselfe might teach What thoughts and deeds to him most proper be If he be great let him remember then That since nor Wealth nor Title can procure him Exemption from the Doomes of other Men He ought to seeke how Vertue may secure him If he be Poore let him this Comfort take That though awhile he be afflicted here Yet Death â—ay him as fully happy make As hâ— that doth a Crowne Imperiall weare For when his Fatall-blow Death comes to strike He makes the Beggar and the King alike What cannot be by Force attain'd By Leisure and Degrees is gain'd PAVLATIM NON IMPETV ILLVSTR. XLIX Book 1. SOme Foolish Boyes and such a Boy was I When they at Schoole have certaine houres to passe To which they are compell'd unwillingly Much time they spend in shaking of the Glasse Thus what they practise to make-short their stay Prolongs it more for while they seeke to force The Sands to runne more speedily away They interrupt them and they passe the worse Right so in other things with us it fares And seeming wise we act a foolish part For otherwhile what Time alone prepares We seeke to make the subject of an Art Sometimes by Rashnesse we endeavour what We ought with Leisure and Advice to doe But if a good Successe doth follow that Our Wit was nothing helpefull thereunto Sometime againe we prosecute a thing By Violence when our desir'd effect No other meanes so well to passe can bring As Love and Gentlenesse which we neglect But let this Emblem teach us to regard What Way of Working to each Worke pertaines So though some Portion of our Hopes be barr'd We shall not altogether lose our paines Some things are strong and othersome are weake With Labour some and some with Ease be wrought Although the Reed will bend the Kexe will breake And what mends one thing makes another naught Marke this And when much Haste will marre thy Speed That then thou take good Leisure take thou Heed Of Little-Gaines let Care be had For of small Eares great Mowes are made DE PARVIS GRANDIS A
anothers tongue from whom This Mischiefe unto thee shall come But much the better thou shalt speed If now thine Emblem well thou heed 43 Vnworthy things thou dost affect With somewhat overmuch respect Vnto the World inclining so As if thy Hopes were all below But now to rowse thee from this crime Good Counsell comes in happy time Make use thereof and thinke it not Meere casuall or a needlesse Lot 44 Thou either too much love hast plac't On things that will not alway last Or else thou art a little scar'd Because thy Hopes are long deferr'd Nay thou art touch'd in both of these Thy Profit therefore and thine ease It will effect if well thou minde What in thine Emblem thou shalt finde 45 When thou hast Changes good or bad Ore-joy'd thou art or over-sad As if it seemed very strange To see the Winde or Weather change Lo therefore to remember thee How changeable things Mortall bee Thou art assisted by this Lot Now let it be no more forgot 46 Of thy just Aymes though meanes be slight Thou mayst attaine their wished height Vnlesse thy Folly shall destroy The Weale thou seekest to injoy By thy Despaire or by neglect Of that which may thy Hopes effect For by thine Emblem thou mayst know Great things from small Beginnings grow 47 Thou must have Crosses but they shall To Blessings be converted all And Suffrings will become thy Praise If Wisedome order well thy wayes Yea when thy Crosses ended are A Crowne of Glory thou shalt weare Yet note how this to passe is brought For in thine Emblem it is taught 48 If they who drew this Lot now be Of great Estate or high Degree They shall ere long become as poore As those that beg from doore to doore If poore they be it plaine appeares They shall become great Princes Peeres And in their Emblem they may know What very day it will be so 49 You have attempted many a thing Which you to passe could never bring Not that your Worke was hard to doe But ' cause you us'd wrong Meanes thereto Hereafter therefore learne I pray The Times of Working and the Way And of thine Emblem take thou heed If better thou desire to speed 50 If you to greater Wealth will rise You must not slender Gaine despise Nay if you minde not to be poore You must regard slight Losses more For Wealth and Poverty doe come Not all at once but some and some If this concerne you any wayes See what your Emblem further sayes 51 Your Fortune hath deserved thank That she on you bestowes a Blank For as you nothing good have had So you have nothing that is bad Yea she in this hath favour showne If now your Freedome well be knowne For you by Lot these Emblems mist That you may chuse out which you list 52 You by an Emblem seeke to get What Counsel your Affaires may fit But in particular there 's none Which you by Lot can light upon And why because no Morall there Doth worthy of your Heed appeare No but because you rather need Of ev'ry Emblem to take heed 53 The Starres are now no friends of your Or this is not their lucky houre For at this time unto your Lot They by an Emblem answer not If therefore you desire to know What good advice they will allow Some further Meanes you must assay Or trye your Chance another day 54 You in your secret thoughts despise To thinke an Emblem should advise Or give you cause to minde or heed Those things whereof you may have need And therefore when the Lot you try'd An answer justly was deny'd Yet by your leave there are but few Who need good Counsell more then you 55 In some extreame you often are And shoot too short or else too farre Yea such an errour you were in When for a Lot you mov'd the Pin For one touch more or lesse had layd Our Index where it should have stayd But if you can be warn'd by this To keepe the Meane which oft you misse You have obtain'd as good a Lot As any one this day hath got 56 Among these Emblems none there be Which now by Lot will fall to thee However doe not thou repine For this doth seeme to be a signe That thou thy Portion shalt advance By Vertue not by fickle Chance Yet nerethelesse despise thou not What by good Fortune may be got FINIS A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES ANCIENT AND MODERNE Quickened VVITH METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS And disposed into LOTTERIES both Morall and Divine That Jnstruction and Good Counsell may bee furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation By GEORGE WITHER The Second Booke LONDON Printed by AVGVSTINE MATHEVVES MDCXXXIV TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY Prince CHARLES Prince of Wales c. FAir'st Blossome of our hopes and Morning-starre To all these Ilands which inclosed are By Neptunes armes within our Northern cliâ—nes And who wee trust shall rise in future times To be the brightest Light that then will shine Betwixt the Artick-Circle and the LINE To Yov as now you are that I present These EMBLEMS 't is not so impertinent As those may thinke it who have neither seene What of your Cradle-sports hath heeded beene Nor heard how many serious Questionings Your Child-hood frameth out of trifling things And if mine aime I have not much mistooke I come not oversoone with such a Booke So long as in this Infant-Age you are Wherein the speechlesse Portraitures appeare A pleasurefull delight your HIGHNESSE may Among our EMBLEMS finde a Harmelesse-play And those mute Objects will from time to time Still Riper seeme till you to ripenesse clime When their dumb Figures no more sport can make Their Illustrations will begin to speake And ev'ry day new matter still disclose Vntill your Iudgement to perfection growes They likewise who their Services to do Frequent your Presence may have pleasure too From this your Play-game yea and some perchance May cure a Folly or an Ignorance By that which they shall either heare or view In these our Emblems when they wait on You Or shall be called by your EXCELLENCE To try what LOT they shall obtaine from thence It may moreover much increase the sport Which is allowed in a vertuous COVRT When they whose faults have long suspected bin Shall draw forth private Censures of their Sin And heare their EMBLEMS openly display What others dare not but in private say Nor will to Yov the MORALS be in vaine Ev'n when to manly Knowledge you attaine For though to Teach it will not them become To be Remembrancers they may presume And that which in their hild-hood men shall heed Will soonest come to minde in time of need Incourag'd by these Hopes I thought it meet To lay this humble Present at your feet Accept it now and please to favour me When I growe old and You a Man shall be To your Highnesse most humbly devoted GEO WITHER TO THE MOST HIGH-BORNE and
hopefull Prince JAMES Duke of YORKE c. Sweet PRINCE YOur hand I kisse and thus my Lines addresse Vnto your wise and vertuous GOVERNESSE For MADAME as his PROXY it is fit That YOv both Read and answere for him yet To YOv for HIM I therefore tender here To welcome-in the New-beginning Yeare This harmelesse PLAY-GAME that it may have place When somewhat riper Daies shall Make his GRACE Affect such Objects which to looke upon May pleasure yeeld him e're this Yeare be gone 'T is not the least Discretion in great COVRTS To know what Recreations and what Sports Become young PRINCES or to find out those Which may with harmelesse pleasantnesse dispose Their Mindes to VERTVE neither in their Cradles Should this be heeded lesse than in their Sadles Because when first to know we doe begin A small Occasion le ts much Evill in Among those things which both Instruct and please But few for Children are surpassing these For they to looke on Pictures much desire And not to Looke alone but to enquire What things those are that represented be In ev'ry MAP or EMBLEM which they see And that which they shall view or shall be told By meanes of any Figure they behold Experience breedes assisteth Memory Or helps to forme a Witty Fantasie And if those Formes to good Instruction tend Oft steads them also till their lives have end Then since ev'n all of us much Good receive By Vertuous PRINCES And should therefore strive To adde some helpes whereby they might acquire That Excellence which wee in them desire I being able to present his GRACE With nothing but a Rattle or a Glasse Or some such Cradle-play-game bring to day This BOOKE to be as usefull as it may And how and when it will most usefull grow Without my Teaching YOV can fully show For what is of your Ablenesse believ'd Through all these famous Ilands hath receiv'd A large applause in that from out of those Which ablest were both King and State have those Your Faith and Wisedome to be TREASVRESSE Of their chiefe Iewels and the GOVERNESSE Of our prime Hopes And now Iibi have weigh'd Me thinks there needs no more by me he said But having pray'd your HONOVâ— to receive This PRESENT for the DVKE to take my leave And Versifie to him some other day When Hee can understand mee what I say Till then let it please your Honour sometimes to remember Him that I am his Graces daily and humble Oratour GEO WITHER We best shall quiet clamorous Thronges When we our selves can rule our Tongues NEQVEO COMPES CERE MVLTOS ILLVSTR. I. Book 2 WHen I observe the Melanchollie Owles Considering with what patience they sustaine The many clamours of the greater Fowles And how the little Chirpers they disdaine When I remember how their Injuries They sleight who causeles give them an offence Vouchsafing scarce to cast aside their eyes To looke upon that foolish Insolence Me thinkes by their Example I am taught To sleight the slaunders of Injurious Tongues To set the scoffes of Censurers at naught And with a brave neglect to beare out Wrongs Hee doubtles whom the Psalmist long agoe Vnto a lonely Desert-Owle compar'd Did practise thus And when I can doe so I shall for all affronts become prepar'd And though this Doctrine Flesh and blood gaine-say Yet sure to stopp the malice of Despight There is no better nay no other way Since Rage by Opposition gathers Might Good God! vouchsafe sufficient grace and strength That though I have not yet such Patience gott I may attaine this happy gift at length And finde the cause that yet I have it not Though me my Neighbours and my Foes revile Make me of all their words a Patient-bearer When er'e I suffer let me be the while As is the silent Lambe before the Shearer So though my speakings cannot quiet any My Patience may restraine the Tongues of many When wee by Hunger VVisdome gaine Our Guts are wiser then our Braine INGENII LARGITOR VENTER ILLVSTR. II. Book 2 THe Crowe when deepe within a close-mouth'd Pot. She water finds her thirstinesse to slake And knoweth not where else it might be got Her Belly teacheth her this course to take She flies and fetcheth many Pibbles thither Then downe into the Vessell lets them drop Vntill so many stones are brought together As may advance the water to the top From whence we might this observation heed That Hunger Thirst and those necessities Which from the Bellies craving doe proceed May make a Foole grow provident and wise And though in sport we say the braines of some Not in their Heads but in their Gutts doe lye Yet that by wants Men wiser should become Dissenteth not from true Philosophy For no man labours with much Willingnesse To compasse what he nought at all desires Nor seeketh so his longing to possesse As when some urgent neede the same requires Nay though he might a willingnesse retaine Yet as the Belly which is ever full Breeds fumes that cause a sottish-witles-braine So plenteous Fortunes make the Spirits dull All borne to Riches have not all-times witt To keepe much lesse to better their degree But men to nothing borne oft passage get Through many wants renown'd and rich to bee Yea Povertie and Hunger did produce The best Inventions and of chiefest use Though Musicke be of some abhor'd She is the Handmaid of the Lord. QVI ME ALIT ME EXTINGVIT ILLVSTR. III. Book 2 TO Musicke and the Muses many beare Much hatred and to whatsoever ends Their Soule-delighting-Raptures tuned are Such peevish dispositions it offends Some others in a Morall way affect Their pleasing Straines or for a sensuall use But in Gods Worship they the same suspect Or taxe it rather as a great abuse The First of these are full of Melancholy And Pitty need or Comfort more then blame And soone may fall into some dangerous folly Vnlesse they labour to prevent the same The Last are giddie-things that have befool'd Their Iudgements with beguiling-Fantasies Which if they be not by discretion fchool'd Will plunge them into greater Vanities For Musicke is the Handmaid of the LORD And for his Worship was at first ordayned Yea therewithall she fitly doth accord And where Devotion thriveth is reteyned Shee by a nat'rall power doth helpe to raise The mind to God when joyfull Notes are founded And Passions fierce Distemperatures alaies When by grave Tones the Mellody is bounded It also may in Mysticke-sense imply What Musicke in our-selves ought still to be And that our jarring-lives to certifie Wee should in Voice in Hand and Heart agree And sing out Faiths new-songs with full concent Vnto the Lawes ten-stringed Instrument Marke what Rewards to Sinne are due And learne upriâ—â—tnesse to pursue DISCITE IVSTICIAM ILLVSTR. IIII. Book 2 A Sword unsheathed and a strangling-Snare Is figur'd here which in dumbe-shewes doe preach Of what the Malefactor should beware And they doe threaten too aswell as Teach For some there
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
five hundred Marks decrease Through that which for my profit was bestowne And I ere this had wholly been undone But that the Wealth which I relie on most Consists in things which never can be lost Yet by this Losse I have Occasions had To feele why other men are often sad And I who blushed to be troublesome To any Friend therby almost am come To such a passe that what I wish to have I should grow impudent enough to Crave Had not impartiall Death and wasting Time Of all my Friends quite worne away the Prime And left mee none to whom I dare present The meanest suite withom encouragement Although the greatest Boone I would implore Should cost them but a Word or little more Yet some there are no doubt for whose respect I might endeavour with no vaine effect Had I but cause to have as high esteeme Of mine owne Merits as I have of them And if your Honour should be so inclin'd As I desire I now am sure to finde Another Pembrooke by whose ayde sustain'd I may preserve what by the Last I gain'd To make adventure how it will succeed I now am come And lo my LORD insteed Of better Advocates I first begin Mine EMBLEMS by these Lines to Vsher in That they by their admittance may effect For Mee and for themselves your kinde respect That which in them best Worthy you shall find Is this that they are Symptomes of a Minde Affecting honestie and of a Heart So truly honouring a true desert That I am hopefull made they will acquire As much respect as I can well desire And SIR your Candor your knowne Courtesies With other praisefull Vertues make mee rise To this Beliefe that YOV by fav'ring mee Hereafter may as highly honour'd be As by some former Bounties and encrease My Future Merit by your Worthinesse However what I am or shall be knowne To Bee by Your Deservings or mine owne You may command it and be sure to finde Though false my Fortunes prove a Faithfull Mind Thus unfainedly professeth Your Honours truest Honourer GEO WITHER TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HENRIE Earle of HOLLAND c. Captaine of the Guard Lord-chiefe-Iustice in Eyre of all his Majesties Forrests Parkes and Chases on this side Trent Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Counsell Right Noble SIR HAving of late some Cause to overlooke That thankfull Register wherein I booke My noblest Friends I found so many Names Possessing nothing but their honour'd Fames Whose living Persons wee injoyed here A while agoe that I began to feare I might grow Friendlesse having now so few Vnlesse I sought their Number to renew By some Disasters also gaining proofe How much this Course would make for my behoofe I call'd my Wits to Counsell Where and How I might with hopefulnesse begin to sow The seeds of such a Blessing And me thought Within mee something said Where should be sought What thou so gladly wouldst renewed finde But from some BRANCHES of the selfe-same kinde Whose faire Aspects may seeme to promise fruit According to the Virtues of the Roote Assoone as Fancie had inform'd me so Your Lordship came to my remembrance too With what our Soveraigne's Favour Vulgar Fame Or your owne Merits addeth to your Name Which having weigh'd no doubts at all I had Of Worth in YOV But rather doubtings made That all my Wits would insufficient be To make that Worth become a Friend to mee For I have oft observ'd that Favour shunnes The best Desert if after her it runnes Yet who can tell what may befall thought I It is no great Adventure if I try Without successe And if I gaine my End I am assured of a Noble-Friend His honourable FATHER deem'd mee worth So much respecting as to seeke me forth When I was more Obscure And MEE for nought 〈…〉 to Befriend mee forth HEE sought 〈◊〉 wherefore of his SONNE should I suspect 〈◊〉 seeking HIM hee can my love reject 〈◊〉 Couâ—tesie doth alwaies there abound 〈◊〉 such a lovely Personage is found My LORD these were my Fancies But I take them To be of no more worth than you shall make them By your Acceptance Nor is' t my intent To Court you with a fruitlesse Complement But to attempt your Favour with a mind As readily and really inclinde To serve you when my services may steed As to expect your Favours in my need For had my Fates enabled me so much I should more willingly have sought out such On whom I Courtesies might have bestowne Than seeke to cure Misfortunes of mine owne No doubt but every day your Lordship heares Inventions which may better please your eares Than these I now present And yet you might For ought I knew finde profit or delight By our plaine EMBLEMS or some uses in them Which from your Honour some respects may win them Ev'n for that good Moralitie which they To Vulgar Vnderstandings will convay But Truth to speake the chiefest cause which drew My minde to make them PRESENTS for your view Was but to take Occasion to professe That I am Servant to your WORTHINESSE In which if YOV are pleased All is got At which I aym'd And though you like it not It shall but teach Mee for the time to come To take more heed where I am troublesome And I shall be neverthelesse your Honours to be commanded as becommeth your Servant GEO WITHER Whil'st I the Sunne 's bright Face may view I will no meaner Light pursue NON INFERIORA SECUTUS ILLVSTR. I. Book 4 WHen with a serious musing I behold The gratefull and obsequious Marigold How duely ev'ry morning she displayes Her open brest when Titan spreads his Rayes How she observes him in his daily walke Still bending towards him her tender stalke How when he downe declines she droopes and mournes Bedow'd as 't were with teares till he returnes And how the vailes her Flow'rs when he is gone As if she scorned to be looked on By an infâ—riour Eye or did contemne To wayt upon a meaner Light then Him When this I meditate me-thinkes the Flowers Have spirits farre more generous then ours And give us faire Examples to despise The servile Fawnings and Idolatries Wherewith we court these earthly things below Which merit not the service we bestow But oh my God! though groveling I appeare Vpon the Ground and have a rooting here Which hales me downward yet in my desire To that which is above mee I aspire And all my best Affections I professe To Him that is the Sunne of Righteousnesse Oh! keepe the Morning of his Incarnation The burning Noone-tide of his bitter Passion The Night of his Descending and the Height Of his Ascension ever in my sight That imitating him in what I may I never follow an inferiour Way The Earth is God's and in his Hands Are all the Corners of the Lands IN MANU DOMINI OMNES SUNT FINES TERRAE ILLVSTR. II. Book 4 LOng since the sacred Hebrew
neglect the wrong And thou dost little seeme to heede What harme it threats if thou proceed To thee an Emblem therefore showes To what abused-Patience growes Observe it well and make thy Peace Before to Fury Wrath increase 45 Thou hast the helps of Natures light Experience too doth ayde thy sight Nay more the Sun of Grace-divine Doth round about thee daylie shine Yet Reasons eye is blind in thee And clearest Objects cannot see Now from what cause this Blindnesse growes The Morall of the thine Emblem showes 46 Thy cause thy Money or thy Friend May make thee forward to contend And give thee Hopes that thy intents Shall bring thee prosperous events But view thy Lot then marke thou there That Victories uncertaine are And rashly venture not on that Whose End may be thou knowest not what 47 To them who grudgingly repine Assoone as their estates decline This Lot pertaines or unto those Who when their neighbour needy growes Contemne him as if he were left Of God and of all hopes berest If this or that be found in thee Thou by thy Morall taught shalt be That there is none to ill bâ— sped But may have hope he shall be fed 48 Thy Flesh thou lov'st as if it were The chiefest Object of thy Care And of such value as may seeme Well meriting thy best esteeme But now to banish that conceit Thy Lot an Emblem brings to sight Which without flattery shewes to thee Of what regard it ought to be 49 It may suspected be thou hast Mispent the Time that 's gone and past For to an Emblem thou art sent That 's made such folly to prevent The morall heed Repent thy Crime And Labour to Redeeme the Time 50 With good applause thou hast begunne And well as yet proceedest on But e're the Lawrell thou canst weare Thou to the End must persevere And lest this dutie be forgot Thou hast a Caveat by this Lot 51 Although this time you drew it not Good Fortune for you may be got Perhaps the planets ruling now Have cast no good Aspects on you For many say that now and then The Starres looke angerly on men Then try your Chance againe anon For their displeasure soone is gone 52 If by your Lot you had beene prais'd Your minde perchance it would have rais'd Above the meane Should you receive Some check thereby It would bereave Your Patience For but few can beare Reproofes which unexpected are But now prepared you have beene To draw your Lot once more begin And if another Blancke you get Attempt your chance no more as yet 53 To crosse your hopes Misfortune sought And by your Lot a Blanck hath brought But he who knew her ill intent Hath made this Blanke her spight prevent For if that Number you shall take Which these two figures backward make And view the place to which they guide An Emblem for you they provide 54 These Lots are almost Ten to One Above the Blankes yer thou hast none If thus thy Fortune still proceed T is Tâ—â— to One if well thou speed Yet iâ— thou doe not much neglect To doe as Wisdome shall direct It is a Thousand unto ten But all thy Hopes will prosper then 55 It seemes Dame Fortune doth not know What Lot on thee she should bestow Nor canst thou tell if thou mightst have The choice what Fortune thou shouldst crave For one thing now thy minde requires Anon another it desires When Resolution thou hast got Then come againe and draw thy Lot 56 The Chance which thou obtained hast Of all our Chances is the last And casting up the totall summes We finde thy Game to Nothing comes Yet if it well be understood This Chance may chance to doe thee good For it inferres what Portion shall To ev'ry one at last befall And warnes while something is enjoyd That well it alwaies be imployd FINIS See Emblem I. See Emb. II. See Emb. III. See Emb. IV. See Emb. V. See Emb. VI. See Emb. VII See Emb. VIII See Emb. IX See Emb. X. See Emb. XI See Emb. XII See Emb. XIII See Emb. XIV See Emb. XV. See Emb. XVI See Emb. XVII See Emb. XVIII See Emb. XIX See Emb. XX. See Emb. XXI See Emb. XXII See Emb. XXIII See Emb. XXIV See Emb. XXV See Emb. XXVI See Emb. XXVII See Emb. XXVIII See Emb. XXIX See Emb. XXX See Emb. XXXI See Emb. XXXII See Emb. XXXIII See Emb. XXXIV See Emb. XXXV See Emb. XXXVI See Emb. XXXVII See Emb. XXXVIII See Emb XXXIX See Emb. XL. See Emb. XLI See Emb. XLII See Emb. XLIII See Emb. XLV See Emb. XLV See Emb. XLVI See Emb. XLVII See Emb. XLVIII See Emb. XLIX See Emb. L. * The Countesse of Dorset See Emblem I. See Emb. II. See Emb. III. See Emb. IV. See Emb. V. See Emb. VI. See Emb. VII See Emb. VIII See Emb. IX See Emb. X. See Emb. XI See Emb. XII See Emb. XIII See Emb. XIV See Emb. XV. See Emb. XVI See Emb. XVII See Emb. XVIII See Emb. XIX See Emb. XX. See Emb. XXI See Emb. XXII See Emb. XXIII See Emb. XXIV See Emb. XXV See Emb. XXVI See Emb. XXVII See Emb. XXVIII See Emb. XXIX See Emb. XXX See Emb. XXXI See Emb. XXXII See Emb. XXXIII See Emb. XXXIV See Emb. XXXV See Emb. XXXVI See Emb. XXXVII See Emb. XXXVII See Emb. XXXIX See Emb. XL. See Emb. XLI See Emb. XLII See Emb. XLIII See Emb. XLIV See Emb. XLV See Emb. XLVI See Emb. XLVII See Emb. XLVIII See Emb. XLIX See Emb. L. See Emblem I. See Emb. II. See Emb. III. See Emb. IV. See Emb. V. See Emb. VI. See Emb. VII See Emb. VIII See Emb. IX See Emb. X. See Emb. XI See Emb. XII See Emb. XIII See Emb. XIV See Emb. XV. See Emb. XVI See Emb. XVII See Emb. XVIII See Emb. XIX See Emb. XX. See Emb. XXI See Emb. XXII See Emb. XXIII See Emb. XXIV See Emb. XXV See Emb. XXVI See Emb. XXVII See Emb. XXVIII See Emb. XXIX See Emb. XXX See Emb. XXXI See Emb. XXXII See Emb. XXXIII See Emb. XXXIV See Emb. XXXV See Emb. XXXVI See Emb. XXXVII See Emb. XXXVIII See Emb. XXXIX See Emb. XL. See Emb. XLI See Emb. XLII See Emb. XLIII See Emb. XLIV See Emb. XLV See Emb. XLVI See Emb. XLVII See Emb. XLVIII See Emb. XLIX See Emb. L. See Emb. I. See Emb. II. See Emb. III. See Emb. IV. See Emb. V. See Emb. VI. See Emb. VII See Emb. VIII See Emb. IX See Emb. X. See Emb. XI See Emb. XII See Emb. XIII See Emb. XIV See Emb. XV. See Emb. XVI See Emb. XVII See Emb. XVIII See Emb. XIX See Emb. XX. See Emb. XXI See Emb. XXII See Emb. XXIII See Emb. XXIV See Emb. XXV See Emb. XXVI See Emb. XXVII See Emb. XXVIII See Emb. XXIX See Emb. XXX See Emb. XXXI See Emb. XXXII See Emb. XXXIII See Emb. XXXIV See Emb. XXXV See Emb. XXXVI See Emb.