Chapter I: Front Matter (1)

=Transcriber's notes:=

In the section "To The Reader" our author writes:

_There be, no doubt, some faults committed by the =Printer=, both Literall and Materiall, and some Errors of the =Gravers= in the =Figures=, (as in the =Tetragrammaton=; in the Figure of =Arîon=; and in the =Proprieties= due to some other =Hieroglyphicks=); but, for the most part, they are such, as =Common-Readers= will never perceive; and I thinke, that they who are =Judicious= will so plainly finde them to be no faults of mine; that, leaving them to be amended by those, to whom they appertaine; and, =You=, to accept of these =Play-games= as you please: I bid you =Farewell=._

Therefore all oddities and inconsistencies have been left unchanged. They have been noted at the end of the transcription.

An addendum of transcriptions and translations of the mottoes engraved around each emblem has been added to the final note as a convenience to the reader.

A PREPOSITION to this FRONTISPIECE.

This BOOKE contayning EMBLEMS, ’twas thought fit,
A _Title-page_ should stand to usher it,
That’s Emblematicall: And, for that end,
Our AVTHOR, to the _Graver_ did commend
A plaine Invention; that it might be wrought,
According as his Fancie had forethought.
Insteed thereof, the _Workeman_ brought to light,
What, here, you see; therein, mistaking quite
The true _Designe_: And, so (with paines, and cost)
The first intended FRONTISPIECE, is lost.
The AVTHOR, was as much displeas’d, as Hee
In such Adventures, is inclin’d to bee;
And, halfe resolv’d, to cast this PIECE aside,
As nothing worth: but, having better ey’d
Those _Errors_, and _Confusions_, which may, there,
Blame-worthy (at the first aspect) appeare;
Hee saw, they fitted many Fantasies
Much better, then what _Reason_ can devise;
And, that, the _Graver_ (by meere _Chance_) had hit
On what, so much transcends the reach of _Wit_,
As made it seeme, an Object of _Delight_,
To looke on what, MISFORTVNE brought to light:
And, here it stands, to try his _Wit_, who lists
To pumpe the secrets, out of _Cabalists_.
If any thinke this _Page_ will, now, declare
The meaning of those _Figures_, which are there,
They are deceiv’d. For, _Destinie_ denyes
The utt’ring of such hidden _Mysteries_,
In these respects: First, _This_ contayneth nought
Which (in a proper sense) concerneth, ought,
The _present-Age_: Moreover, tis ordain’d,
That, none must know the _Secrecies_ contain’d
Within this PIECE; but, they who are so wise
To finde them out, by their owne _prudencies_;
And, hee that can unriddle them, to us,
Shall stiled be, the second OEDIPVS.
Tis, likewise, thought expedient, now and then,
To make some _Worke_, for those _All-knowing men_,
(To exercise upon) who thinke they see
The _secret-meanings_, of all things that bee.
And, lastly, since we finde, that, some there are,
Who best affect _Inuentions_, which appeare
Beyond their understandings; _This_, we knew
A _Representment_, worthy of their view;
And, here, wee placed it, to be, to these,
A FRONTISPIECE, in any sense they please.

A
COLLECTION
OF
EMBLEMES,
ANCIENT AND
MODERNE:

Quickened
With METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both
_Morall_ and _Divine_: And disposed into
LOTTERIES,

That _Jnstruction_, and _Good Counsell_, may bee furthered
by an Honest and Pleasant _Recreation_.

_By_ GEORGE WITHER.

_The First Booke._

LONDON,
Printed by _A.M._ for _Richard Royston_, and
are to be sold at his Shop in _Ivie_-Lane.
MDCXXXV.

_Recensui hoc Poëma, cui titulus est =(A Collection and Illustration of Emblems Ancient and Moderne)= in quo nihil reperio, quò minus cum utilitate imprimatur, ita tamen, ut si non intra septem menses proximè sequentes Typis mandetur, hæc licentia sit omninò irrita._

Ex ædibus Lambithanis
_Iul. 2. 1634._
GVIL. BRAY.

A
WRIT OF PREVENTION
Concerning the AVTHORS _Dedication_
of the foure following BOOKES, to those
_Royall_, _Princely_, and _Illustrious_ PERSONAGES,
whose Names are mentioned
in this _Leafe_.

I have not often us’d, with _Epigrames_,
Or, with _Inscriptions_ unto many NAMES,
To charge my _Bookes_: Nor, had I done it, now,
If I, to pay the _Duties_ which I owe,
Had other _meanes_; Or, any better Wayes
To honour them, whose _Vertue_ merits praise.
In _ARCHITECT_, it giveth good content,
(And passeth for a praisefull _Ornament_)
If, to adorne the _FORE-FRONTS_, _Builders_ reare
The _Statues_ of their _Soveraigne-Princes_, there;
And, trimme the _Outsides_, of the other SQVARES
With _Portraitures_ of some Heroicke PEERES.
If, therefore, I (the more to beautifie
This _Portion_ of my MVSES _Gallerie_)
Doe, here, presume to place, the _NAMES_ of those
To whose _Deserts_, my LOVE remembrance owes,
I hope ’twill none offend. For, most, who see
Their worthy _mention_, in this BOOKE, to bee,
Will thinke them honor’d: And, perhaps, it may
(To their high praise) be found, another day,
That, in these LEAVES their _Names_ wil stand unrac’d,
When many fairer _STRVCTVRFS_, are defac’d.

_In this =Hope=, I have placed on the FORE-FRONT (or before the
=First Booke= of these EMBLEMS) a =Ioint-Inscription= to the
KING and QVEENES most excellent MAIESTIE._

_Upon the =Right-Side-Front= of this =Building= (or before
the =Second Booke=) One =Inscription= to the most hopefull
=Prince, =CHARLES=, Prince of =Wales=; And, another to his deere
=Brother, =IAMES=, Duke of =Yorke=, =&c.=_

_On the other =Side-Front=, (or before the =Third Booke=)
One =Inscription= to the gratious Princesse, FRANCES
Dutchesse-Dowager of RICHMOND and LENOX; And, another to her
most noble Nephew, IAMES Duke of Lenox, &c._

_On the =Fourth Front= of our =Square=, (Or before the =Fourth
Booke=) One =Inscription= to the right Honourable PHILIP Earle
of =Pembrooke= and =Montgomery=, &c. And another to the right
Honourable, HENRY Earle of =Holland=, &c._

To the MAJESTIE of Great
_Britaine_, _France_, and _Ireland_, the
Most Illustrious King,
CHARLES;
And his excellently beloved, the most
gratious _Queene_ MARY.

Sev’n yeares are full expired, Royall SIR,
Since last I kneel’d, an offring to preferre
Before your feete; where, now, my selfe I throw
To pay once more, the _Tributes_ which I owe.
_As many yeares are past, most beauteous QVEENE,
Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beene
Of those Perfections; which the generall =Fame=
Hath sounded forth, in honour of your =Name=._
And, both your _beaming-splendors_ (oh yee faire,
Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matched PAIRE)
Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;
And have so sweetly mingled your _affections_,
Your _Praise_, your _Pow’re_, your _Vertues_, and your _Beautie_:
That, (if preserving of my _Soveraigne dutie_,
This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,
TWO PERSONS, in One MAIESTY, to be;
To whom, there, appertaines (in veneration
Of your large _Worth_) the right of some _Oblation_
And, best, I thought, my _Homage_ would be done,
If, thus, the tender were to BOTH-in-ONE.
Which, in this humble GVIFT, my _Love_ presents;
And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.
Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shew
These _Figures_, as well meriting your view;
Nor boast, as if their _Moralls_ couched ought,
By which your sacred _Wisdomes_ may be taught:
Yet, I have humble _Hopings_, that, they might
Prove, some way, an occasion of delight;
Since, meane and common _Objects_, now and then,
Beget contentments in the _greatest-men_.
But, that before this _Booke_, I should propose
Your praisefull NAMES, there is (as I suppose)
A faire inducement: For, considering these
Are EMBLEMS, whose intention is to please
And profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,
Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)
And, I well knowing, that your MAIESTIES
Set foorth before my _Booke_, in _Emblem-wise_,
Throughout your Lands, more _Vertues_ might convay,
Than many _Volumes_, of these _Emblems_, may;
It seemed _Petty-treason_, to omit
This good occasion of endeavouring it.
For, (if your MAIESTIES, well heeded, were)
YOV, double-treble-foure-fold _Emblems_ are;
Which, fully to illustrate, would require
The _Wit_ I want; or, meanes to raise, that, higher
Which I have gain’d; (and, which, as yet, hath flowne
By no incouragements, but by her owne.)
Of all the _Vertues_ OECONOMICAL,
Of _Duties_ MORAL and POLITICALL,
Your _Lives_ are _Patternes_, and faire EMBLEMS; whether
Considered apart, or both together.
Your CHILDHOODS were bright _Mirrours_, which did show
What Duties, _Children_, to their _Parents_ owe:
And, by the sequele, we now understand,
That, they who best _obay’d_, can best command.
The glorious _Vertues_ of your NVPTIALL-_state_,
Your _Courtiers_, find so hard to imitate,
That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,
(Had others told, what, now they see and heare)
That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,
With such a _Paire_, when _Kings_ and _Queenes_ were _Sainted_.
The chastest _Cupids_, and the gamesom’st _Graces_,
Are alwaies mingled in your _Deare-embraces_.
The mutuall enterchanges of your _Loves_,
May teach affection to the _Turtle-doves_:
And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,
May see in _You_, all _Excellence_ united.
You, SIR, who beare _Ioves_ Thunders in your Fist,
And, (shake this _Ilands_ EMPIRE, when You list)
Did never in your _Orbe_, a _Tempest_ move,
But, by the Beautious _Mistresse_ of your _Love_
It might be calm’d. _And, in your lofty =Spheare=,
Most lovely QVEENE, Your Motions ever, were
So smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,
They have withdrawne his Royall-heart away
From Iust =Designes=; Which, loudly speakes your =Praise=,
And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies._
Yea, both Your _Splendors_ doe so glorious growe,
And, You, each other have out-vyed so,
In these, and other _Vertues_; that, on You,
Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,
My _Lines_, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)
Would Flatt’ry seeme, unto an envious eare.
But, what needs _Flatt’ry_, where the _Truth_ may teach
To praise, beyond immodest _Flatt’ries_ reach?
Or, what needs he to feare a _sland’rous-mouth_,
Who seekes no _meed_, nor utters more than Truth?
Your Princely _Vertues_, what can better show,
Than _Peace_, and _Plenty_, which have thrived so,
Whilst You have raign’d that, yet, no people see,
A _Richer_, or more _Peacefull_ time, than wee?
Your _Civill Actions_ (to the publike eye)
Are faire _examples_ of _Moralitie_,
So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,
Who said, _The World doth imitate the King_;
My _Muses_ dare, with boldnesse to presage,
A Chast, a Pious, and a Prosperous _Age_:
And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr’d,
Shall all be quite removed, or deferr’d
Till you Ascend; And, future times have seene,
That, your Examples have not followed beene.
Thus, you are living _Emblems_, to this _Nation_:
Which being mark’d with heedefull speculation,
May serve, as well, to helpe us how to see
Our _Happinesse_, As, what our _Duties_ be.
And, if I might unlocke all _Mysteries_,
Which doe declare, how in a _foure-fold-wise_,
Your Lives are usefull EMBLEMS; I, perchance,
Should vexe blind _Zeale_, or anger _Ignorance_;
And, teach well-temper’d _Spirits_, how to see,
That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.
For, as you, _Both_, Prime _Children_ are of those
Two _Sister-Churches_, betwixt whom, yet, growes
Vnseemely _strife_; So, _You_, perhaps, may be
An _Emblem_, how those MOTHERS may agree.
And, not by your _Example_, onely, show,
How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.
Yea, peradventure, GOD, united _You_,
That, such a blessed VNION might ensue:
And, that, Your _living-lovingly_, together;
Your Christian _hopefullnesse_, of one another;
Your milde _forbearance_, harsh attempts to proove;
Your _mutuall-waiting_, untill _God_ shall move
By some _calme-voice_, or peacefull _inspiration_,
That _Heart_ Which needeth better _Information_;
And, that, your _Charities_, might give a _signe_,
How, all the _Daughters_, of the SPOVSE _Divine_
Might reconciled be; And, shew, that, _Swords_,
_Flames_, _Threats_, and _Furie_, make no true _Accords_.
GOD grant a better VNION may appeare:
Yet, wish I not the _tollerating_, here,
Of _Politicke-Agreements_; (further than
Our wholsome _Lawes_, and, _Civill-vowes_ to man,
With _Piety_, approve) but, such, as may
Make up a blessed CONCORD, every way:
Might it be so; your _Vertues_, would become
A Glorious _Blessing_, to all CHRISTENDOME:
Your EMBLEM should, by future _Generations_;
Be plac’d among the famous _Constellations_,
And, _after-times_ (though, Mee, this _Age_ despise)
Would thinke, these _Verses_, had beene _Prophecies_.
What ever may succeed, my _Pray’rs_ and _Powr’s_
Are this way bent; with _Hope_, that _You_ or _Yours_
Shall _Helps_ (at least) become, that _Breach_ to close,
Which, in the SEAMLES-ROBE, yet, wider growes.
SO BE IT: And, let bright your _Glories_ bee,
For ever, though _You_ never shine on MEE.

_Your_ MAIESTIES

_most Loyall Subject_,

=GEO: WITHER.=

TO THE READER.

_If there had not beene some =Bookes= conceitedly composed, and sutable to meane capacities, I am doubtfull, whether I had ever beene so delighted in reading, as thereby to attaine to the little Knowledge I have: For, I doe yet remember, that, things =honestly pleasant=, brought mee by degrees, to love that which is =truely profitable=. And as =David= said, His =Heart shewed him the wickednesse of the Vngodly=; (meaning perhaps, that hee felt in himselfe, some =Experiments=, of the same naturall Corruption, by which they are overcome, who resist not evill suggestions at their first motions:) Even so, I may truly acknowledge, that mine owne =Experience= hath showne mee so much of the common =Ignorance= and =Infirmitie= in mine owne person, that it hath taught mee, how those things may be wrought upon in others, to their best advantage._

_Therefore, though I can say no more to disswade from =Vice=, or to incourage men to =Vertue=, than hath already beene said in many learned =Authors=; yet I may be an occasion by these =Endeavours=, to bring that, the oftner into remembrance, which they have, more learnedly, expressed; and perhaps, by such circumstances, as they would not descend unto, may insinuate further also with some Capacities, than more applauded =Meanes=. =Viniger=, =Salt=, or common =Water=, (which are very meane =Ingredients=) make Sawces more pleasing to some tastes, than =Sugar=, and =Spices=. In like manner, plaine and vulgar notions, seasoned with a little =Pleasantnesse=, and relished with a moderate =Sharpnesse=, worke that, otherwhile, which the most admired =Compositions= could never effect in many =Readers=; yea, wee have had frequent proofes, that a blunt =Iest= hath moved to more consideration, than a judicious =Discourse=._

_I take little pleasures in =Rymes=, =Fictions=, or conceited =Compositions=, for their owne sakes; neither could I ever take so much paines, as to spend time to put my meanings into other words than such as flowed forth, without =Studie=; partly because I delight more in Matter, than in =Wordy Flourishes=, But, chiefely, because those =Verball Conceites=, which by some, are accounted most =Elegant=, are not onely (for the greater part) =Emptie Sounds= and Impertinent =Clinches=, in themselves; but, such =Inventions=, as do sometime, also, obscure the =Sense=, to common =Readers=; and, serve to little other purpose, but for =Wittie men= to shew =Tricks= one to another: For, the =Ignorant= understand them not; and the =Wise= need them not._

_So much of them, as (without darkning the matter, to them who most need instruction) may be made use of, to stirre up the =Affections=, winne =Attention=, or help the =Memory=, I approve and make use of, to those good purposes, according as my leisure, and the measure of my =Facultie= will permit; that, =Vanitie= might not, to worse ends, get them wholly into her =Possession=. For, I know that the meanest of such conceites are as pertinent to some, as =Rattles=, and =Hobby-horses= to Children; or as the =A. B. C.= and =Spelling=, were at first to those =Readers=, who are now past them. And, indeed, to despise =Meane Inventions=, =Pleasant Compositions=, and =Verball Elegancies=, (being qualified as is aforesaid) or to banish them out of the world, because there be other things of more excellencie, were as absurd, as to neglect and root out all =Herbes=, which will not make =Pottage=; Or, to destroy all =Flowers=, which are lesse beautifull than the =Tulip=, or lesse sweet than the =Rose=._

_I (that was never so sullenly wise) have alwaies intermingled =Sports= with =Seriousnesse= in my =Inventions=; and, taken in =Verball-conceites=, as they came to hand, without =Affectation=; But, having, ever aymed, rather to profit my =Readers=, than to gaine their praise, I never pumpe for those things; and am, otherwhile, contented to seeme =Foolish=, (yea, and perhaps, more foolish than I am) to the =Overweening-Wise=; that, I may make others =Wiser than they were=: And, (as I now doe) am not ashamed to set forth a =Game at Lots=, or (as it were) a =Puppet-play= in =Pictures=, to allure men to the more serious observation of the profitable =Morals=, couched in these =Emblems=. Neverthelesse, (if some have sayd, and thought truly) my =Poems= have instructed, and rectified many People in the Course of =Honest-living=, (which is the best =Wisedome=) much more than the =Austerer Volumes= of some criticall =Authors=; who, are by the =Common-sort=, therefore onely, judged Wise, because they composed =Books=, which few understand, save they who need them not._

_In these =Lots= and =Emblems=, I have the same ayme which I had in my other =Writings=: and, though I have not dressed them sutably to curious =Fancies=, yet, they yield wholsome nourishment to strengthen the constitution of a =Good-life=; and, have solidity enough for a =Play game=, which was but Accidentally composed; and, by this =Occasion=._

_These =Emblems=, graven in Copper by =Crispinus Passæus= (with a =Motto= in Greeke, Latine, or Italian, round about every =Figure=; and with two =Lines= (or =Verses=) in one of the same =Languages=, periphrasing those =Motto’s=) came to my hands, almost twentie yeares past. The =Verses= were so meane, that, they were afterward cut off from the =Plates=; And, the =Collector= of the said Emblems, (whether hee were the =Versifier= or the =Graver=, was neither so well advised in the =Choice= of them, nor so exact in observing the true =Proprieties= belonging to every =Figure=, as hee might have beene._

_Yet, the =Workman-ship= being judged very good, for the most part; and the rest excusable; some of my Friends were so much delighted in the =Gravers= art, and, in those =Illustrations=, which for mine owne pleasure, I had made upon some few of them, that, they requested mee to =Moralize= the rest. Which I condiscended unto: And, they had beene brought to view many yeares agoe, but that the =Copper Prints= (which are now gotten) could not be procured out of =Holland=, upon any reasonable Conditions._

_If they were worthy of the =Gravers= and =Printers= cost, being onely dumbe =Figures=, little usefull to any but to young =Gravers= or =Painters=, and as little delightfull, except, to =Children=, and =Childish-gazers=: they may now be much more worthy; seeing the life of =Speach= being added unto them, may make them =Teachers= and =Remembrancers= of profitable things._

_I doe not arrogate so much unto my =Illustrations=, as to thinke, they will be able to teach any thing to the =Learned=; yet if they cast their eyes upon them, perhaps, these =Emblems=, and their =Morals=, may remember them, either of some =Dutie=, which they might else forget, or minde them to beware of some =Danger=, which they might otherwise be unheedfull to prevent. But, sure I am, the =Vulgar Capacities=, may from them, be many waies both =Instructed=, and =Remembred=; yea, they that have most need to be =Instructed=, and =Remembred=, (and they who are most backward to listen to =Instructions=, and =Remembrances=, by the common Course of =Teaching=, and =Admonishing=) shall be, hereby, informed of their =Dangers=, or =Duties=, by the way of an honest =Recreation=, before they be aware._

_For, when levitie, or a childish delight in trifling Objects, hath allured them to looke on the =Pictures=; Curiositie may urge them to peepe further, that they might seeke out also their =Meanings=, in our annexed =Illustrations=; In which, may lurke some =Sentence=, or =Expression=, so evidently pertinent to their =Estates=, =Persons=, or =Affections=, as will (at that instant or afterward) make way for those =Considerations=, which will, at last, wholly change them, or much better them, in their =Conversation=._

_To seeke out the =Author= of every particular =Emblem=, were a labour without profit; and, I have beene so far from endeavouring it, that, I have not so much as cared to find out their meanings in any of these =Figures=; but, applied them, rather, to such purposes, as I could thinke of, at first sight; which, upon a second view, I found might have beene much betterd, if I could have spared time from other imployments. Something, also, I was =Confined=, by obliging my selfe to observe the same number of =lines= in every =Illustration=; and, otherwhile, I was thereby constrained to conclude, when my best =Meditations= were but new begunne: which (though it hath pleased Some, by the more comely Vniformitie, in the Pages) yet, it hath much injured the libertie of my =Muse=._

_There be, no doubt, some faults committed by the =Printer=, both Literall and Materiall, and some Errors of the =Gravers= in the =Figures=, (as in the =Tetragrammaton=; in the Figure of =Arîon=; and in the =Proprieties= due to some other =Hieroglyphicks=; but, for the most part, they are such, as =Common-Readers= will never perceive; and I thinke, that they who are =Judicious= will so plainly finde them to be no faults of mine; that, leaving them to be amended by those, to whom they appertaine; and, =You=, to accept of these =Play-games= as you please: I bid you =Farewell=._

The Occasion, _Intention_, and use of the Foure
_Lotteries_ adjoyned to these foure Books
of _Emblems_.

Stultorum plena sunt omnia. _The world is growne so in Love with =Follie=, that the Imprinting of over-solid and serious =treatises= would undoe the Book-sellers; especially, being so chargeable as the many costly =Sculptures= have made this Booke: therefore, (to advance their =Profits=, rather than to satisfie my owne =Iudgement=) I was moved to invent somewhat, which might be likely to please the vulgar Capacitie, without hindrance to my chiefe =End=. And, though that which I resolved on, be not so =Plausible= to Criticall understandings, yet I am contented to hazzard among them, so much of my Reputation as that comes to._

_I have often observed, that where the =Summer-bowers= of Recreation are placed neare the =Church=, it drawes 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 ayme at particular persons: For, if any who are =notoriously Guiltie=, shall by drawing their =Chances=, among other Companions, be so fitted with =Lots=, (which may now and then happen) that those =Vices= be therby intimated to the by-standers, of which the world knowes them guilty; they do therin make their owne =Libels=; and, may (I hope) bee laughed at without my blame. If not; I doe here warne all such as are worthily suspected of =Haynous crimes=, and =Scandalous conversations=, either to forbeare these =Lotteries=; or to excuse me if they be justly shamed by their own =Act=._

_Having thus declared the Reason of this =Invention=, and made these Anticipations; every man hath his choice, whether hee will make use of those =Lotteries= or no; hee that will, is left to his =Chance=, of which, how hee shall make tryall, direction is given in the two last 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 _Dining-roome_,
As _Chesse_, or _Tables_; and, we thinke the _Price_
Will be as low; because, it needs no _Dice_.

The AVTHORS Meditation upon sight of his PICTVRE.

_When 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=, as much 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 =Ægle=, for an =Ægle=, 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 daies
Be summed up, to my =Redeemer’s= praise.
So this be gained, I regard it not,
Though, all that I am else, be quite forgot._

_By =Knowledge= onely, =Life= wee gaine,
All other things to =Death= pertaine._

ILLVSTRATIO I. _Book. 1._]

How Fond are they, who spend their pretious Time
In still pursuing their deceiving _Pleasures_?
And they, that unto ayery _Titles_ clime
Or tyre themselves in hoording up of _Treasures_?
For, these are _Death’s_, who, when with 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 stile,
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._

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 _Sleights_
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=._

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 dreadfull _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 frame;
So, _Armes_ is that, which must protect the same.

_=Occasions-past= are sought in vaine;
But, oft, they =wheele-about= again._

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 _Despairing_ 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, not _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._

ILLVSTR. V. _Book. 1._]

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 sleeping, 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 frothie _Bubbles_ of an empty _Fame_.
True _Glory_, none did ever purchase, yet,
Till, to be _Vertuous_ they could first attaine;
Nor shall those men faire _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 Typifide.
For, where a vertuous _Industry_ is found,
She, shall with Wreaths of _Glory_, thus be crown’d.

_Though =Fortune= prove true =Vertues= Foe,
It cannot worke her Overthrowe._

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 by _Vertue_, and _Deserts_, to clime.
Poore _Heights_ they be which _Fortune_ reares unto;
And, fickle is the _Favour_ she bestowes:
To-day, she makes; to-morrow, doth undoe;
Builds up, and in an instant overthrowes.
On easie _Wheeles_, to Wealth, and Honours high,
She windes men oft, before they be aware;
And, when they dreame of most _Prosperitie_,
Downe, headlong, throwes them lower then they were.
You, then, that seeke a more assur’d estate,
On good, and honest _Objects_, fixe your _Minde_,
And follow _Vertue_, that you may a _Fate_
Exempt from feare of Change, or Dangers, finde.
For, he that’s _Vertuous_, whether high or low
His _Fortune_ seemes (or whether foule or faire
His _Path_ he findes) or whether friend, or foe,
The _World_ doth prove; regards it not a haire.
His _Losse_ is _Gaine_; his _Poverty_ is _Wealth_;
The Worlds _Contempt_, he makes his _Diadem_;
In _Sicknesse_, he rejoyceth, as in _Health_:
Yea, _Death_ it selfe, becommeth _Life_, to him.
He feares no disrespect, no bitter scorne,
Nor subtile plottings, nor Oppressions force;
Nay, though the World should topsie-turvie turne,
It cannot fright him, nor divert his Course.
Above all Earthly powres his _Vertue_ reares him;
And, up with _Eglets_ wings, to Heav’n it beares him.

_A fickle =Woman= wanton growne,
Preferres a =Crowd=, before a =Crowne=._

ILLVSTR. VII. _Book. 1._]

_Foole!_ Dost thou hope, thine _Honours_, or thy _Gold_,
Shall gaine thee _Love_? Or, that thou hast her heart
Whose hand upon thy tempting _Bayt_ layes hold?
Alas! fond _Lover_, thou deceived art.
She that with _Wealth_, and _Titles_, can be wonne,
Or woo’d with _Vanities_, will wavring bee;
And, when her Love, thou most dependest on,
A _Fiddle-sticke_ shall winne her heart from thee.
To _Youth_ and _Musicke_, _Venus_ leaneth most;
And (though her hand she on the _Scepter_ lay)
Let _Greatnesse_, of her Favours never boast:
For, _Heart_ and _Eye_, are bent another way.
And lo, no glorious Purchace that Man gets,
Who hath with such poore _Trifles_, woo’d, and wonne:
Her footing, on a _Ball_, his _Mistresse_ sets,
Which in a moment slips, and she is gone.
A _Woman_, meerely with an _Out side_ caught,
Or tempted with a _Galliard_, or a _Song_,
Will him forsake (whom she most lovely thought)
For _Players_ and for _Tumblers_, ere’t be long.
You, then, that wish your _Love_ should ever last,
(And would enjoy _Affection_ without changing)
_Love_ where your _Loves_ may worthily be plac’t;
And, keepe your owne _Affection_, still from ranging.
Vse noble _Meanes_, your Longings to attaine;
Seeke equall _Mindes_, and well beseeming _Yeares_:
They are (at best) vaine _Fooles_, whom _Follie_ gaine;
But, there is _Blisse_, where, _Vertue_ most endeares:
And, wheresoe’re, Affection _shee_ procures,
In spight of all _Temptations_, it endures.

_This Ragge of =Death=, which thou shalt see,
Consider it; And =Pious= bee._

ILLVSTR. VIII. _Book 1._]

Why, silly Man! so much admirest thou
Thy present _Fortune_? overvaluing so
Thy _Person_, or the beauty of thy _Brow_?
And _Cloth’d_, so proudly, wherefore dost thou goe?
Why dost thou live in riotous _Excesse_?
And _Boast_, as if thy Flesh immortall were?
Why dost thou gather so? Why so oppresse?
And, o’re thy Fellow-creatures, _Domineere_?
Behold this _Emblem_; such a thing was hee
Whom this doth represent as now thou art;
And, such a Fleshlesse _Raw-bone_ shalt thou bee,
Though, yet, thou seeme to act a comelier part.
Observe it well; and marke what _Vglinesse_
Stares through the sightlesse _Eye-holes_, from within:
Note those leane _Craggs_, and with what _Gastlinesse_,
That horrid _Countenance_ doth seeme to grin.
Yea, view it well; and having seene the same
Plucke downe that _Pride_ which puffs thy heart so high;
Of thy _Proportion_ boast not, and (for shame)
Repent thee of thy sinfull _Vanity_.
And, having learn’d, that, all men must become
Such bare _Anatomies_; and, how this _Fate_
No mortall _Powre_, nor _Wit_, can keepe thee from;
Live so, that _Death_ may better thy estate.
Consider who created thee; and why:
Renew thy _Spirit_, ere thy _Flesh_ decayes:
More _Pious_ grow; Affect more _Honestie_;
And seeke hereafter thy _Creatours_ praise.
So though of _Breath_ and _Beauty_ Time deprive thee,
New _Life_, with endlesse _Glorie_, _God_ will give thee.

_Before thou bring thy =Workes= to Light,
Consider on them, in the =Night=._

ILLVSTR. IX. _Book. 1._]

An _Owle_ (the _Hieroglyphicke_ us’d for _Night_)
Twixt _Mercury_ and _Pallas_, here takes place,
Vpon a crown’d _Caduceus_ fixt upright;
And, each a _Cornucopia_ doth imbrace.
Through which darke _Emblem_, I this Light perceive;
That, such as would the _Wit_ and _Wealth_ acquire,
Which may the _Crowne_ of approbation have,
Must _wake by Night_, to compasse their desire.
For, this _Mercurian-Wand_, doth _Wit_ expresse;
The _Cornu-copia_, _Wealthinesse_ implies;
Both gained by a studious _Watchfulnesse_;
Which, here, the _Bird of Athens_ signifies.
Nor, by this _Emblem_, are we taught alone,
That, (when great _Vndertakings_ are intended)
We _Sloth_, and lumpish _Drowsinesse_ must shunne;
But, _Rashnesse_, also, here is reprehended.
_Take Counsell of thy Pillow_, (saith our _Sawe_)
And, ere in waighty Matters thou proceede,
Consider well upon them; lest they draw
Some Afterclap, which may thy Mischiefe breede.
I, for my seriou’st _Muses_, chuse the _Night_;
(More friend to _Meditation_, then the _Day_)
That neither Noyse, nor Objects of the _Sight_,
Nor bus’nesses, withdraw my _Thoughts_ away,
By _Night_, we best may ruminate upon
Our _Purposes_; Then, best, we may enquire
What _Actions_ wee amisse, or well, have done;
And, then, may best into our _Selves_ retire:
For, of the _World-without_, when most we see,
Then, blindest to the _World-within_, are wee.

_An =Innocent= no =Danger= feares,
How great soever it appeares._

ILLVSTR. X. _Book. 1._]

When some did seeke _Arion_ to have drown’d,
He, with a dreadlesse heart his Temples crown’d;
And, when to drench him in the Seas they meant,
He playd on his melodious _Instrument_;
To shew, that _Innocence_ disdayned Feare,
Though to be swallow’d in the _Deeps_ it were.
Nor did it perish: For, upon her Backe
A _Dolphin_ tooke him, for his _Musick’s_ sake:
To intimate, that _Vertue_ shall prevaile
With _Bruitish_ Creatures, if with _Men_ it faile.
Most vaine is then their Hope, who dreame they can
Make wretched, or undoe, an _Honest-Man_:
For, he whom Vertuous _Innocence_ adornes,
Insults o’re _Cruelties_; and, _Perill_ scornes.
Yea, that, by which, Men purpose to _undoe_ him,
(In their despight) shall bring great _Honours_ to him.
_Arion_-like, the Malice of the _World_,
Hath into _Seas_ of _Troubles_ often hurl’d
Deserving Men, although no Cause they had,
But that their _Words_ and _Workes_ sweet _Musicke_ made.
Of all their outward Helps it hath bereft them;
Nor meanes, nor hopes of Comfort have beene left them;
But such, as in the House of _Mourning_ are,
And, what _Good-Conscience_ can afford them there.
Yet, _Dolphin-like_, their _Innocence_ hath rear’d
Their Heads above those _Dangers_ that appear’d.
_God_ hath vouchsaf’d their harmelesse _Cause_ to heed,
And, ev’n in Thraldome, so their Hearts hath freed,
That, whil’st they seem’d oppressed and forlorne;
They _Ioyd_, and _Sung_, and _Laugh’d the World to scorne_.

_A =Foole=, in =Folly= taketh Paine,
Although he labour still in vaine._

ILLVSTR. XI. _Book. 1._]

A Massie _Mil-stone_ up a tedious Hill,
With mighty Labour, _Sisyphus_ doth roll;
Which being rais’d-aloft, downe-tumbleth, still,
To keepe imployed his afflicted _Soule_.
On him, this tedious Labour is impos’d;
And (though in vaine) it must be still assayd:
But, some, by no Necessity inclos’d,
Vpon themselves, such needlesse Taskes have layd.
Yea, knowing not (or caring not to know)
That they are worne and weary’d out in vaine,
They madly toyle to plunge themselves in Woe;
And, seeke uncertaine _Ease_, in certaine _Paine_.
Such _Fooles_ are they, who dreame they can acquire
A Minde-content, by _Lab’ring still for more_:
For, _Wealth_ encreasing, doth encrease _Desire_,
And makes _Contentment_ lesser then before.
Such _Fooles_ are they, whose _Hopes_ doe vainely stretch
To climbe by _Titles_, to a happy Height:
For, having gotten one _Ambitious-Reach_,
Another comes perpetually in sight.
And, their stupidity is nothing lesse,
Who dreame that _Flesh_ and _Blood_ may raysed be
Vp to the _Mount of perfect-Holinesse_:
For (at our best) corrupt and vile are we.
Yet, we are bound by _Faith_, with _Love_ and _Hope_,
To roll the Stone of _Good-Endeavour_, still,
As neere as may be, to _Perfections top_,
Though backe againe it tumble downe the _Hill_.
So; What our _Workes_ had never power to doe,
_God’s_ Grace, at last, shall freely bring us to.

_As, to the =World= I =naked= came,
So, =naked=-stript I leave the same._

ILLVSTR. XII. _Book. 1._]

Thrice happy is that Man whose _Thoughts_ doe reare
His Minde above that pitch the _Worldling_ flies,
And by his _Contemplations_, hovers where
He viewes things mortall, with unbleared eyes.
What Trifles then doe _Villages_ and _Townes_
Large _Fields_ or _Flockes_ of fruitfull _Cattell_ seeme?
Nay, what poore things are _Miters_, _Scepters_, _Crownes_,
And all those _Glories_ which Men most esteeme?
Though he that hath among them, his Delight,
Brave things imagines them (because they blinde
With some false Lustre his beguiled sight)
He that’s above them, their meane-Worth may finde.
_Lord_, to that _Blessed-Station_ me convey
Where I may view the _World_, and view her so,
That I her true Condition may survey;
And all her Imperfections rightly know.
Remember me, that once there was a Day
When thou didst weane me from them with content,
Ev’n when shut up within those _Gates_ I lay
Through which the _Plague-inflicting Angel_ went.
And, let me still remember, that an Houre
Is hourely comming on, wherein I shall
(Though I had all the _World_ within my powre)
Be naked stript, and turned out of all.
But minde me, chiefely, that I never cleave
Too closely to my _Selfe_; and cause thou me,
Not other Earthly things alone to leave,
But to forsake my _Selfe_ for love of _Thee_:
That I may say, now _I have all things left_,
Before that I of all things, am bereft.

_To him a happy =Lot= befalls
That hath a =Ship=, and =prosp’rous Gales=._

SECVNDIS

ILLVSTR. XIII. _Book. 1._]

No wonder he a prosp’rous _Voyage_ findes
That hath both _Sailes_ and _Oares_ to serve his turne,
And, still, through meanes of some propitious _Winds_
Is to his wished _Harbour_, swiftly borne.
Nor is it much admir’d, if they that lacke
Those aydes (on which the _Common-faith_ depends)
Are from their hoped aymes repelled backe,
Or made to labour for unfruitfull ends.
Yet neither in the _Ship_, _Wind_, _Oares_, or _Sailes_,
Nor in the want of _Outward meanes_, alone,
Consists it, that our _Hope_ succeedes or failes;
But, most in that, which Men least thinke upon.
For, _some_ endeavour, and their Paines are blest
With _Gales_ which are so fortunate, that they
Fly safe, and swiftly on, among the best,
Whil’st others labour, and are cast away.
_Some_ others, on this _Worlds_ wide _Ocean_ floate,
And neither _Wind_, nor _Tide_ assistant have,
Nor _Saile_, nor _Oare_, nor _Anchor_, nor sound _Boate_,
Nor take so much as heede themselves to save;
And yet are safe: A third sort, then, there are
Who neither want fit _Meanes_, nor yet neglect,
The painefull-_Industrie_, or honest _Care_,
Which _Need_ requires; yet find small good effect.
Therefore, let that which you propose, be _Iust_;
Then, use the fairest _Meanes_, to compasse it:
And, though _Meanes_ faile, yet foster no mistrust;
But fearelesly, to _God_, your _Course_ commit:
For, _Hee_, to _Faithfull-Hearts_, and _Honest-Mindes_
Turnes _Losse_ to _Gaine_; and _Stormes_, to _prosp’rous Windes_.

_Though he endeavour all he can,
An =Ape=, will never be a =Man=._

ILLVSTR. XIIII. _Book. 1._]

What though an _Apish-Pigmie_, in attire,
His Dwarfish Body _Gyant-lyke_, array?
Turne _Brave_, and get him _Stilts_ to seem the higher?
What would so doing, handsome him I pray?
Now, surely, such a Mimicke sight as that,
Would with excessive Laughter move your Spleene,
Till you had made the little _Dandiprat_,
To lye within some Auger-hole, unseene.
I must confesse I cannot chuse but smile,
When I perceive, how Men that worthlesse are,
Piece out their _Imperfections_, to beguile,
By making showes, of what they never were.
For, in their _borrow’d-Shapes_, I know those Men,
And (through their _Maskes_) such insight of them have;
That I can oftentimes disclose (ev’n then)
How much they savour of the _Foole_ or _Knave_.
A _Pigmey-spirit_, and an _Earthly-Minde_,
Whose looke is onely fixt on Objects vaine;
In my esteeme, so meane a place doth finde,
That ev’ry such a one, I much refraine.
But, when in honour’d _Robes_ I see it put,
Betrimm’d, as if some thing of _Worth_ it were,
Looke big, and on the _Stilts_ of _Greatnesse_, strut;
From scorning it, I cannot then forbeare.
For, when to grosse _Vnworthinesse_, Men adde
Those Dues, which to the _Truest-worth_ pertaine;
Tis like an _Ape_, in _Humane-Vestments_ clad,
Which, when most fine, deserveth most disdaine:
And, more absurd, those Men appeare to me,
Then this _Fantasticke-Monkey_ seemes to thee.

_I =pine=, that others may not perish,
And =waste= my =Selfe=, their =Life= to cherish._

ILLVSTR. XV. _Book. 1._]

Observe I pray you, how the greedy _Flame_
The _Fewell_, on an _Altar_ doth consume.
How it destroyeth that which feedes the same,
And how the _Nourisher_ away doth fume.
For, so it fares with _Parents_ that uphold
Their thriftlesse _Children_ in unlawfull _Pleasures_:
With _Cares_, it weares them out, ere they are old;
And ere their Lives consume, consumes their Treasures.
So fares it with such _Wantons_ as doe feede
Vnchast Desires; for, ev’ry day they grow
Vntill their _Longings_, their _Supplies_ exceede,
And, quite devoure those men that fed them so.
So fares it with all those that spend their _Youth_
In lab’ring to enrich ungratefull Men,
Who, growing _Great_, and _Wealthy_, by their Truth,
Returne them _Smoke_ and _Ashes_ backe agen.
So fares it with good _States-men_, who to keepe
A thankelesse _Common-wealth_ in happy Peace,
Deprive their _Mindes_ of Rest, their _Eyes_ of Sleepe,
And, waste themselves, that others may encrease.
And, so it fares with Men that passe away
Their time in _Studies_, (and their Healths impaire)
That helps to other men become they may,
And, their defective Knowledges, repaire.
But, let my _Flesh_, my _Time_, and my _Estate_,
Be so consum’d; so spent; so wasted bee,
That they may nourish _Grace_, and perfit 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=._

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._

ILLVSTR. XVII. _Book. 1._]