Emblem we resemble may The Name of none I purpose to reveale But their Condition heere I will display Some both by gifts of Nature and of Grace Are so prepared that they might be fit To stand as Lights in profitable place Yet loose their Talent by neglecting it Some to the common Grace and nat'rall parts By helpe of Nurture and good Discipline Have added an accomplishment of Arts By which their Light may much the brighter shine Some others have to this acquired more For to maintaine their Lampe in giving light Of Waxe and Oyle and Fatnesse they have store Which over-flowes unto them day and night And ev'n as Lampes or Candles on a Table Or fixt on golden Candlesticks on high To light Assemblies Great and Honourable They oft have also place of Dignitie By meanes of which their Splendor might become His praise who those high favours did bequeath They might encrease the Light of Christendome And make them see who sit in shades of Death But many of them like those Candles bee That stand unlighted in a Branch of gold For by their helpe wee nothing more can see Than wee in grossest darknesse may behold If such there be as there bee such I feare The question is For what good use they are The Sacrifice God loveth best Are Broken-hearts for Sin opprest SACRIFICIVM DEO COR CONTRIBVLATIM ILLVSTR. XV. Book 2 NO Age hath had a people to professe Religion with a shew of holinesse Beyond these times nor did men sacrifice According to their foolish fantasies More oft than at this present One bestowes On pious-workes the hundreth part of those Ill-gotten goods which from the poore he seazed And thinkes his God in that is highly pleased Another of her dues the Church bereaves And yet himselfe a holy man conceives Yea and right bountifull if hee can spare From those his thefts the tenth or twentieth share To some new Lecture or a Chaplaine keepe To please Himselfe or preach his Wife asleepe Some others thinke they bring sincere Oblations When fir'd with zeale they roare out Imprecations Against all those whom wicked they repute And when to God they tender any sute They dreame to merit what they would obtaine By praying-long with Repetitions vaine With many other such like Sacrifices Men come to God but he such gifts despises For neither gifts nor workes nor any thing Which we can either doe or say or bring Accepted is of God untill he finde A Spirit-humbled and a troubled-minde A contrite Heart is that and that alone Which God with love and pitie lookes upon Such he affects therefore Oh Lord to thee Such let my Heart and such my Spirit bee A King that prudently Commands Becomes the glory of his Lands REGNI CORONA REX ILLVSTR. XVI Book 2 THe Royall-Scepter Kingly power implyes The Crowne-Imperiall GLORIE signifies And by these joyn'd in one we understand A King that is an honour to his Land A Kingdome is not alwaies eminent By having Confines of a large extent For Povertie and Barbarousnesse are found Ev'n in some large Dominions to abound Nor is it Wealth which gets a glorious-Name For then those Lands would spread the widest Fame From whence we fetch the Gold and Silver-ore And where we gather Pearles upon the shore Nor have those Countries highest exaltations Which breed the strongest and the Warlikst Nations For proud of their owne powre they sometimes grow And quarrell till themselves they overthrow Nor doe the chiefest glories of a Land In many Cities or much People stand For then those Kingdomes most renowned were In which Vnchristian Kings and Tyrants are It is the King by whom a Realme's renowne Is either builded up or overthrowne By Solomon more fam'd was Iudah made Then by the Multitude of men it had Great Alexander glorified Greece Throughout the World which else had bene a piece Perhaps obscure And Caesar added more To Rome then all her greatnesse did before Grant Lord these Iles for ever may be blessed With what in this our Emblem is expressed By Studie and by Watchfulnesse The Jemme of Knowledge we possesse STVDIO ET VIGILANTIA ILLVSTR. XVII Book 2 I Thinke you would be wise for most men seeme To make of Knowledge very great esteeme If such be your desires this Emblem view And marke how well the Figures counsell you Wee by the Bird of Athens doe expresse That painefull and that usefull watchfulnesse Which ought to bee enjoyned unto them Who seeke a place in Wisdomes Academ For as an Owle mewes up her selfe by Day And watcheth in the Night to get her prey Ev'n so good Students neither must be such As daily gad or nightly sleepe too much That open-booke on which the Owle is perch'd Affords a Morall worthy to be search'd For it informes and darkly doth advise Your Watchings be not after Vanities Or like their Wakings who turne dayes to nights In following their unlawfull appetites And that in keeping Home you doe not spend Your houres in sloth or to some fruitlesse end But rather in good Studies and in that By which true Knowledge is arrived at For if your Studies and your Wakings bee To this intent you shall that Path-way see To Wisdome and to Honour which was found Of them whose Knowledge hath been most renownd But if your Watchings and Retyrednesse Be for your Lust or out of Sottishnesse You are not what th' Athenian-Owle implies But what our English-Owlet signifies When Mars and Pallas doe agree Great workes by them effected bee ARTE ET MARTE ILLVSTR. XVIII Book 2 IT prospers ever best in all Estates When Mars and Pallas are continuall Mates And those affaires but seldome luckie be In which these needfull Powers doe not agree That Common-wealth in which good Arts are found Without a Guard will soone receive a wound And Souldiers where good order beares no sway Will very quickly rout themselves away Moreover in our private Actions too There must bee both a Knowledge how to doe The worke propos'd and strength to finish it Or wee shall profit little by our Wit Discretion takes effect where Vigour failes Where Cunning speeds not outward-force prevailes And otherwhile the prize pertaines to neither Till they have joyn'd their Vertues both together Consider this and as occasions are To both of these your due respects declare Delight not so in Arts to purchase harmes By Negligence or Ignorance of Armes If Martiall-Discipline thou shalt affect Yet doe not honest-Policie neglect Improve thy Minde as much as e're thou may But foole thou not thy Bodies gifts away The Vertues both of Body and of Mind Are still to be regarded in their kind And wee should neither of the two disgrace Nor either of them raise above his place For when these two wee value as wee ought Great works by their joynt power to passe are brought They after suffring shall be crown'd In whom a Constant-faith is found CONSTANTE FIDVCIA ILLVSTR. XIX Book 2 MArke well this Emblem and observe
wearinesse They have acquired most sweepes all away And leaves them for their Labors to possesse Nought but a raw-bon'd Carcasse lapt in clay Of twenty hundred thousands who this houre Vaunt much of those Possessions they have got Of their new purchac'd Honours or the Power By which they seeme to have advanc't their Lott Of this great Multitude there shall not Three Remaine for any Future age to know But perish quite and quite forgotten bee As Beasts devoured twice ten yeares agoe Thou therefore who desir'st for aye to live And to possesse thy Labors maugre Death To needfull Arts and honest Actions give Thy Spanne of Time and thy short blast of Breath In holy Studies exercise thy Mind In workes of Charity thy Hands imploy That Knowledge and that Treasure seeke to find Which may enrich thy Heart with perfect Ioy. So though obscured thou appeare awhile Despised poore or borne to Fortunes low Thy Vertue shall acquire a nobler stâ—le Then greatest Kings are able to bestow And gaine thee those Possessions which nor They Nor Time nor Death have power to take away The Man that hath true Wisdome got Continues firme and wavers not SAPIENTIA CONSTANS ILLVSTR. II. Book 1. STill fixt and with triumphant Laurell crown'd Is truest Wisdome whom expressed thus Among the old Impresa's we have found And much this Emblem hath instructed us For hence we learne that Wisdome doth not flow From those unconstant men whom ev'ry Blast Or small Occasion turneth to and fro But from a Settled-head that standeth fast Who'ever shoulders him he gives no place What Storme soe're his Times or Fortunes breath He neither hides his Brow nor turnes his Face But keepes his Lookes undaunted ev'n in Death The Laureat-head upon the Pillar set Thus signifies And that Bay-wreath doth show That constant Wisdome will the conquest get When giddy Policie prevailes not so If therefore thou desirest to be taught Propose good Ends with honest Meanes thereto And therein Constant be till thou hast brought To perfect end that Worke thou hast to doe Let neither flatt'ring Pleasures nor Disgrace Nor scoffing Censures nor the cunning Sleighâ—s Of glozing Sycophants divert that Race To which a harmelesse Prudence thee invites Though others plot conspire and undermine Keepe thou a plaine right Path and let their Course For no advantage make thee change from thine Although it for the present seemes the worse He thus that workes puts Policie to Schoole And makes the Machavilian prove a foole The Law is given to direct The Sword to punish and protect LEX REGIT ET ARMA TVENTVR ILLVSTR. III. Book 1. WHen God-Almighty first engrav'd in stone His holy Law He did not give the same As if some common Act had then beene done For arm'd with Fires and Thunders forth it came By which that great Law-maker might inferre What dâ—eadfull Vengeance would on those attend Who did against those holy Precepts erre And that his Power well-doers could defend Thereto this Emblem also doth agree For loe before the Tables of the Lawe A naked Sword is borne whose use may bee As well to keepe in Safety as in Awe Whence Princes if they please this note may take And it shall make them happily to raigne That many good and wholsome Lawes to make Without an Executioner is vaine It likewise intimates that such as are In Soveraigne place as well obliged be Their zeale for true Religion to declare As what concerneth Manners to foresee It lastly showes that Princes should affect Not onely over others to Command But Swords to weare their Subjects to protect And for their Guard extend a willing hand For Lawes or Peace to boast of and the whiles The Publique-weale to weaken or disarme Is nor the way to hinder Civill-Broyles Nor to secure it from a Forraigne-harme For As by Lawes a Land is kept in fâ—ame So Armes is that which must protect the same Occasions-past are sought in vaine But oft they wheele-about againe NE TENEAR ILLVSTR. IV. Book 1. UNwise are they that spend their youthfull Prime In Vanities as if they did suppose That men at pleasure might redeeme the Time For they a faire advantage fondly lose As ill-advis'd be those who having lost The first Occasions to Despaâ—ring runne For Time hath Revolutions and the most For their Affaires have Seasons more then one Nor is their Folly small who much depend On Transitorie things as if their Powre Could bring to passe what should not have an End Or compasse that which Time will not devoure The first Occasions therefore see thou take Which offred are to bring thy hopes about And minde thou still what Haste away they make Before thy swift-pac't houres are quite runne out Yet if an Opportunity be past Despaire not thou as they that hopelesse be Since Time may so revolve againe at last That New-Occasions may be offred thee And see thou trust not on those fading things Which by thine owne Endeavours thou acquir'st For Time which her owne Births to ruine brings Will spare nor thee nor ought which thou desir'st His Properties and Vses what they are In vaine observ'd will be when he is fled That they in season therefore may appeare Our Emblem thus hath him deciphered Balde save before and standing on a Wheele A Razor in his Hand a Winged-Heele By Labour Vertue may be gain'd By Vertue Glorie is attain'd LABORE VIRTVS VIRTVTE GLORIA PARATVR ILLVSTR. V. Book I SVppose you Sirs those mimicke Apes you meet In strange fantasticke habits or the Rabble That in gay clothes embroyder out the street Are truely of Worshipfull or Honorable Or can you thinke that To be borne the Sonne Of some rich Alderman or ancient Peere Or that the Fame our Predecessors wonne May claime those Wreathes which true Deserving weare Is Honour due to those who spend their dayes In courting one another or consuming Their Fortunes and themselves on Drabbs and Playes In slâ—eping drinking and Tobacco-fuming Not so For though such Fooles like children place Gay Titles on each other Wise-men know What slaves they be how miserably-base And where such Attributes would better show An idle Body clothes a vitious Minde And what at best is purchac'd by the same Is nothing else but stinking Smoke and Winde Or frothâ—e Bubbles of an empty Fame True Glory none did ever purchase yet Tâ—ll to be Vertuous they could first attaine Nor shall those men faiâ—e Vertues favour get Who labour not such Dignities to gaine And this Impresa doth inferre no lesse For by the Spade is Labour here implide The Snake a vertuous Prudence doth expresse And Glorie by the Wreath is Typiside For where a vertuous Industry is found She shall with Wreaths of Gâ—ory thus be crown'd Though Fortune prove true Vertues Foe It cannot worke her Overthrowe NON OBEST VIRTVTI SORS ILLVSTR. VI. Book 1. UNhappy men are they whose Ignorance So slaves them to the Fortunes of the Time That they attending on the Lot of Chance Neglect
long to heare And what thy Constellations are But why should'st thou desire to know What things the Planets doe foreshow Seeke rather Wisedome to procure And how all Fortunes to indure So thou shalt gaine a blest estate And be the Master of thy Fate 13 Thou seem'st to have great store of friends But they affect thee for thâ—ir ends There iâ— in those but little trust Who love for profit mirth or lust Lâ—arne therfore when thou mayst be sure Thy Friend's affection will indure And that this Knowledge may be got Good notice take thou of thy Lot 14 It is conceiv'd that meanes thou hast Oâ— might'st have had good meanes at least Tâ— bâ—ing those matters to effâ—ct Watch thou dost carelesly neglect And good for many might'st have done Who yet hast pleasur'd few or none If this bâ— true thy Lot peruse And God's good gifts no more abuse 15 Religious thou would'st faine be deem'd And such to many thou hast seem'd But to this matter more there goes Then zealous lookes and formall showes Looke therefore that thy heart be true What e're thou sâ—eme in outward view And if God's favour thou would'st have Observe what Off'rings he doth crave 16 That Emblem which this Lot will bring Concernes the honour of a King How therefore thee it may concâ—rne By thy discretion seeke to learne Perhaps the Royall powre hath seem'd To thee not so to be esteem'd As well it merits to be priz'd If so now better be advis'd 17 Both learn'd and wise thou would'st become Else thou hast much deceâ—ved some But if â—hy hopes thou wilt effect Thou muâ—â— not likely meanes neglect And what the likelyest meanes may bee Thine Emblem hath advised thee For by a Fowle that 's blockish thought Good counsell may to thee be taught 18 If to preferment thou wilt rise Thou must not Arts nor Armes despise Nor so in one of these delight That thou the other wholly sleight Nor to thy Body be inclin'd So much as to neglect thy Minde This by thine Emblem thou mayst learne And much thy good it may concerne 19 Thy fortunes have appeared bad For many suffâ—rings thou hast had And tryalls too as yet made knowne To no mans knowledge but thine owne But let nor losse nor fame nor smart From constant hopes remove thy heart And as thine Emblem doth foreshew A good conclusion will insue W 20 Your Lot informeth how to know Where best your Love you may bestow And by the same it may appeare What Musicke most affects your eare Denye it not for by your leave Wee by your lookes your heart perceive And this perhaps you 'l thinke upon To purpose when you are alone 21 This Lot may make us all suspect That some wrong object you affect And that where dearenesse you pretend It is not for the noblest end What mischiefe from such falshood flowes Your Emblem very truely showes And may more happy make your Fate If counsell be not come too late 22 To trust on others thou art apt And hast already beene intrapt Or may'st er'e long be much deceiv'd By some whom thou hast well believ'd Be heedfull therfore of thy Lot And let it never be forgot So though some hazzard thou mayst run Yet thou shalt never be undone 23 It seemes thou tak'st too great a care For things that vaine and fading are Or else dost overpâ—ise them so As if all blisse from them did flowe That therefore thou mayst view their worth In Hieroglyphicke shaddow'd forth Thy Lot befriends thee marke the same And be in this no more to blame 24 Though some should thee for one mistake Whose wealth is all upon his backe If what thou hast bee all thine owne God hath enough on thee bestowne A Princes ransome wee may bâ—are In Iewells which most pâ—ecieu are And yet to many men may seeme To carry nothing worth esteeme Therefore though small thy subâ—â—ance be Thine Emblem somewhat comforts theâ— 25 â—y this your Emblem wee discerne That you are yet of age to learne And that when elâ—er you shall grow There will be more for you to know Presume nâ—t therefore of your wit But strive that you may better it For of your age we many view That farre more wisedome have then you 26 By thy complaints it hath appear'd Thou think'st thy Vertues want reward And that if they their merit had Thou rich and nobler should'st be made To drive thee from that partiall tâ—â—ught Thou by an Emblem shalt be taught That where true Vertue may be found The truest wealth will still abound 27 By this thy Lot thou dost appeare To be of those who love to heare The Preacher's voyce or else of them That undervalue or contemne Those dayly showres of wholsome words Which God in these our times affords Now which soere of these thou bee Thine Emblem something teaches thee 28 Thou deal'st when thee thy foe offends As if you never should be friends In peace thou so secure dost grow As if thou could'st not have a foe How therefore Peace and Warre pursues Each other this thine Emblem shewes That thou mayst learne in ev'ry tide For future chances to provide 29 What e're thou art in outward shew Thy Heart is ever very true And to those Knowledges aspires Which every prudent Soule desires Yet be not proud that thou hast got This testimonie by thy Lot But view thine Emblem and endeaver In search of Knowledge to persever 30 If Glory thou desire to get Thy Wits thou must on working set And labour unto Prudence adde Before true Honor will be had For what thy Friends or Parents brought To make thee famous profits nought But rather will procure thy shame Vnlesse thou shalt improove the same M 31 The time hath beene that of the Rod Thou wert more fearefull then of God But now unlesse thou prudent grow More cause thou hast to feare a shrowe For from the Rod now thou art free A Woman shall thy torment be At her yet doe not thou repine For all the fault is onely thine 32 It seemes thy Time thou dost mispend To warne thee therefore of thine end To shew how short thy Life will be And with what speed it flyes from thee This Lot was drawne and may advize That thou thy time shouldst better prize Which if accordingly thou doe This will be sport and profit too 33 It may be thou art one of those Who dost not all aright suppose of Gods Decrees or of the state Of an inevitable Fate That therefore so thou maist beleeve And of these Mysteries conceive As thou art bound this Lot befell Peruse and minde thine Embleme well 34 Thou at thy Fortune hast repin'd And seem'st imprisond in thy minde Because thou art not straight releast From those things which have thee opprest To thee a Lot is therefore sent To qualifie thy discontent By shewing that thy
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
the Rule Our Nature growes and is as mischievous Till Grace and Reason come to governe us The Square and Bridle therefore let us heed And thereby learne to know what helpes wee need Lest else they fayling timely to bee had Quite out of Order wee at length bee made The Square which is an usefull Instrument To shape foorth senselesse Formes may represent The Law Because Mankind which is by Nature Almost as dull as is the senselesse-creature Is thereby from the native-rudenesse wrought And in the Way of honest-living taught The Bridle which Invention did contrive To â—ule and guide the Creature-sensitive May type foâ—â—h Discipline which when the Law Hath school'd the Wit must keepe the Will in awe And hee that can by these his Passions bound This Emblems meaning usefully hath found Lord let thy sacred Law at all times bee A Rule a Master and a Glasse to mee A Bridle and a Light that I may still Both know my Dutie and obey thy Will Direct my Feet my Hands instruct thou so That I may neither wander nor misâ—doe My Lookes my Hearing and my Wordes confine To keepe still firme to ev'ry Word of thine On thee let also my Desires attend And let me hold this temper till mine end Wee then have got the surest prop When God alone becomes our Hope FVLCRVM TVTIS SIMVM ILLVSTR. XXXVI Book 3 I Should not care how hard my Fortunes were Might still my Hopes be such as now they are Of helpes divine nor feare how poore I bee If thoughts yet present still may bide in mee For they have left assurance of such ayd That I am of no dangers now afraid Yea now I see mee thinkes what weake and vaine Supporters I have sought to helpe sustaine My fainting heart when some injurious hand Would undermine the Station where I stand Me thinks I see how scurvie and how base It is to scrape for favours and for grace To men of earthly minds and unto those Who may perhaps before to morrow lose Their Wealth or their abus'd Authoritie And stand as much in want of helpe as I. Me thinks in this new-rapture I doe see The hand of God from heaven supporting me Without those rotten-Ayds for which I whinde When I was of my tother vulgar-minde And if in some one part of me it lay I now could cut that Limbe of mine away Still might I keepe this mind there were enough Within my selfe beside that cumbring stuffe Wee seeke without which husbanded aright Would make mee Rich in all the Worlds despight And I have hopes that had shee quite bereft mee Of those few ragges and toyes which yet are left me I should on God alone so much depend That I should need nor Wealth nor other Friend True Vertue firme will alwayes bide By whatsoever suffrings tride VIRTUS INEXPUGNABILIS ILLVSTR. XXXVII Book 3 THis is a well-knowne Figure signifying A man whose Vertues will abide the trying For by the nature of the Diamond stone Which Violence can no way worke upon That Patience and long-suffering is intended Which will not bee with Injuries offended Nor yeeld to any base dejectednesse Although some bruising Pow'r the same oppresse Or such hard streights as theirs that hamm'rings feele Betwixt an Anvile and a Sledge of Steele None ever had a perfect Vertue yet But that most Pretious-stone which God hath set On his right hand in beaming-Majestie Vpon the Ring of blest ETERNITIE And this is that impenitrable Stone The Serpent could not leave impression on Nor signe of any Path-way by temptations Or by the pow'r of fly insinuations Which wondâ—ous Mysterie was of those five Whose depth King Solomon could never dive Good God! vouchsafe ev'n for that Diamond-sake That I may of his pretiousnesse partake In all my Trialls make mee alwayes able To bide them with a minde impenitrable How hard or oft so'ere those hamm'rings bee Wherewith Afflictions must new fashion mee And as the common Diamonds polish'd are By their owne dust so let my errours weare Each other ouâ— And when that I am pure Give mee the Lustre Lord that will endure Truth oft oppressed wee may see But quite supprest it cannot bee VERITAS PREMITUR NON OPPRIMITUR ILLVSTR. XXXVIII Book 3 THis is that fruitfull Plant which when it growes Where wholesome Water in abundance flowes Was by the Psalmist thought a likely Tree The Emblem of a blessed-man to bee For many wayes it fitly typifies The Righteous-man with his proprieties And those true Vertues which doe helpe increase His growing in the state of Blessednesse The Palme in this our Emblem figur'd thus Dâ—pressed with a Stone doth shew to us The pow'r of Truth For as this Tree doth spread And thrive the more when weights presse downe the head So Gods eternall Truth which all the pow'r And spight of Hell did labour to devoure Sprung high and flourished the more thereby When Tyrants crush'd it with their crueltie And all inferiour Truths the same will doe According as they make approaches to The best Perfection or as they conduce To God's due praise or some such pious use Lord still preserve this Truth's-integritie Although on ev'ry side the wicked prie To spie how they may disadvantage it Yea Lord though Sinners in high place doe sit As David saith yet let them not oppresse Thy Veritie by their imperiousnesse But make both Her and her Professors bide The Test like Silver seven times purifide That all Truths lovers may with comfort see Shee may depreâ—t but not oppressed bee They who but slowly-paced are By plodding on way travaile farre PAS A PAS ILLVSTR. XXXIX Book 3 THe big-bon'd Oxe in pace is very slow And in his travaile step by step doth goe So leisurely as if he tir'd had bin Before his painfull Iourney did beginne Yet all the day he stifly ploddeth on Vntill the labour of the day be done And seemes as fresh though he his taske hath wrought As when to worke he first of all was brought Meane-while the Palfray which more swiftnesse had Hath lost his breath or proves a Resty-jade This Emblem therefore maketh it appeare How much it profiteth to persevere And what a little Industry will doe If wee continue constant thereunto For meanest Faculties discreetly us'd May get the start of nobler Gifts abus'd This may obserued be in many a one For when their course of life was first begunne Some whose refined wits aspi'rd as high As if above the Sphaeres they were to flie By Sloth or Pride or over-trusting to Their owne Sufficiencies themselves undoe Yea and those forward-wits have liv'd to see Themselves inferiours unto those to be Whom they did in their jollity contemne As blocks or dunces in respect of them Then learne Great-wits this folly to prevent Let Meane-wits take from hence incouragement And let us all in our Affaires proceed With timely leisure and with comely speed Vncertaine Fortunes Favours bee And as the Moone so changeth Shee FORTUNA UT LUNA ILLVSTR.
Consider well what thou hast got And on her flattrings dote thou not 41 The Steele and Flint declare in part The Temper of a Stony-heart And shewe that thence no Vertue flowes Till it be forced out with blowes Some other Moralls thou maist learne Thereby which will thy good concerne Marke therefore what they doe declare And minde it as occasions are 42 Thou thinkst thy Witt had made thee great Had Povertie not beene some let But had thy Wealth as ample beene As thou thy Witt didst overweene Insteed of thy desired Height Perhaps thou hadst beene ruin'd quite Hereafter therefore be content With whatsoever God hath sent 43 To Discord thou art somewhat prone And thinkst thou mayst subsist alone Regarding not how safe they bide 〈◊〉 last in Concords bands are tide 〈◊〉 that thou mayst the better heed What Good from Vnion doth proceed An Emblem is become thy Lot From which good Caveats may be got 44 Thou wouldst be lov'd and to that end Thou dost both Time and Labour spend But thou expect'st as wee beleeve More Love than thou dost meane to give If so thou then art much to blame For Love affects a muturall-flame Which if it faile on either side Will never long time true abide 45 If all your pow'rs you should unite Prevaile in your Desires you might And sooner should effect your ends If you should muster up your Friends But since your Genius doth suspect That you such Policie neglect Your Lot presenteth to your view An Emblem which instructeth you 46 Because thou mayst be one of them Who dare the deeds of Kings condemne As if such eyes as theirs and yours Could view the depth of Sov'raigne pow'rs Or see how in each Time and Place God rules their hearts in ev'ry case To check thy sawcinesse in this An Emblem comes not much amisse 47 Of many goodly parts thou vauntst And much thou hast though much thou wantst But well it were that lesse thou hadst Vnlesse more use thereof thou mad'st That therefore thou mightst come to see How vaine unpractiz'd vertues bee Peruse thine Emblem and from thence Take usefull heed of thy Offence 48 By this thy Lot it may appeare Decayd thy Hopes or Fortunes are But that thou mayst no courage lose Thine Emblem by example showes That as the Moone doth from the Waine Returne and fill her Orbe againe So thou thy Fortunes mayst renew If honest Hopes thou shalt pursue 49 Some Foes for thee doe lie in wait Where thou suspectest no Deceit Yea many a one thy harme intends Whom thou dost hope will be thy Friends Be therefore heedfull whom to trust What walke thou tak'st and what thou dost For by thine Emblem thou shalt see That warinesse will needfull bee 50 It seemes by drawing of this Lot The day of Death is much forgot And that thou needst a faithfull Friend To minde thee of thy latter-end Vnheeded therefore passe not by What now thine Emblem doth imply So thou shalt heare without affright Death 's message though it were to night 51 Thou seek'st by fickle Chance to gaine What thou by Vertue might'st attaine Endeavour well and nothing shall To thee unfortunately fall For ev'ry variable Chance Thy firme contentment shall advance But if thou yet remaine in doubt Turne Fortunes-wheele once more about 52 Thy Lot no Answere will bestow To that which thou desir'st to know Nor canst thou here an Emblem find Which to thy purpose is inclinde Perhaps it is too late to crave What thou desirest now to have Or but in vaine to mention that Which thy Ambition aymeth at Then take it not in evill part That with a Blanck thou answer'd art 53 Although you now refused not To trie the Fortune of your Lot Yet you perhaps unwilling are This company the same should heare Lest some haâ—sh Morall should unfold Such tricks as you could wish untold But loe you need not stand in awe For 't is a Blanck which now you draw 54 It proves a Blanck for to what end Should wee a serious Morall spend Where teachings warnings and advise Esteemed are of little price Your onely purpose is to looke Upon the Pictures of this Booke When more discretion you have got An Emblem shall attend your Lot 55 You might have drawne an Emblem here In which your manners pictur'd were But some will vexe when they shall see Themselves so painted out to bee And blame this Booke as if it had By some unlawfull Art been made Or was contriv'd that to their shame Men on themselves might Lâ—bels frame And lest you may bee so unwise Your Lot an Emblem now denies 56 Because Good Chances others drew To trie these Lots it pleased you But had you such an Emblem found As fits you rightly you had froun'd Or inwardly you would have chase Although you outwardly had laugh'd You therefore very glad may bee This proves a Blanck and so may wee FINIS A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES ANCIENT AND MODERNE Quickened VVith METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS both Morall and 〈◊〉 And disposed into LOTTERIES That Jnstruction and Good Counsell may bee furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation By GEORGE WITHER The fourth Booke LONDON Printed by AVGVSTINE MATHEVVES MDCXXXIV TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE PHILLIP Earle of PEMBROOKE and Mâ—VNTGOMERIE c. Lord Chamberlaine of the Houshould Knight of the most honourable Order of the Garter and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie-Councell My Honourable LORD THough Worthlesse in my owne repute I am And though my Fortune so obscures my Name Beneath my Hopes that now it makes me seeme As little worth in other mens esteeme As in mine owne yet when my Merits were No better than to most they now appeare It pleased some ev'n some of those that had The Noblest Names and those of whom was made The best Account so lowly to descend As my well-meaning Studies to befriend Among those WORTHIES I may both bemone My selfe in HIM and memorize for One Your much renowned BROTHER as a Chiefe In briâ—ging to my waned Hopes reliefe And in my Faculties were I as able To honour Him as he was honourable I would have showne how all this Emperie Hath lost a Friend in HIM asmuch as I. To MEE so freely of his owne accord It pleased HIM his Favours to afford That when our learned and late Sov'raigne-Prince By others mis-informed tooke offence At my Free Lines HEE foun'd such Meanes and Place To bring and reconcile mee to his Grace That therewithall his Majestie bestow'd A Gift upon mee which his Bountie show'd And had inrich'd mee if what was intended Had not by othersome beene ill befriended But as I long time suffred have by those Who labour'd much my thrivings to oppose So I my selfe although not out of pride As many thinke it have so much relide Vpon the Royall-Gift neglecting so To fortifie the same as others do By making Friends that my estate grew lesse By more than twice
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