Chapter V: Front Matter (5)

By this thy _Lot_, it should appeare,
The _Muses_ thy acquaintance are;
Or, that thou art (at least) of those,
Who, of their _Steed_ ambitious growes.
If thou hast _wit_, his _Reynes_ to guide,
Vpon his backe, mount up and ride;
But, if thou finde thy selfe to weake,
Forbeare him, lest thy necke he breake.

See, _Emb._ XLIII.

44

In many things, the worse thou art,
By thy despayring, fainting heart;
And, oft, thy labour, and thy cost,
For want of _hopefulnesse_, is lost.
This indiscretion to prevent,
Thou, therefore, by thy _Lot_, art sent,
The _Plough-man’s_ hopefulnesse to see:
Observe it; and, reformed bee.

See, _Emb._ XLIV.

45

As soone as e’re thy _Seeds_ are sowne,
Thou _fruits_ expectest, fully growne.
And, if they ripe not in a day,
Thou, foolest all thy hopes away:
That wiser, therefore, thou mayst grow,
Thy _Lot_, an _Emblem_ doth bestow,
To teach, that _workes_ both faire and great,
By _small-degrees_, are made compleat.

See, _Emb._ XLV.

46

Thou hadst, or hast, or thou shalt have
Much trouble, ere thou fill thy _Grave_;
And, may’st, when thou expectest rest,
With paine, or sorrowes, be opprest.
But, be content, and waile not much:
For, _Poverty_ shall make thee _rich_.
The paine will soone be overpast,
And, thou shalt happy be at last.

See, _Emb._ XLVI.

47

Thy _Fortune_, be it good or bad,
May, by thy _wit_, be better made;
Yea, whatsoere _mischances_ fall,
By _prudence_, thou may’st helpe them all.
That, hopefull, therfore, thou mayst bide,
What change soever, shall betide,
Thou, by thy _Lot_, informed art,
What succours, _Wisedome_ doth impart.

See, _Emb._ XLVII.

_M_ 48

A man at _Armes_, thou wouldst be thought,
And, hast the Crowne of _Honour_ sought;
But, thou hast much mistooke the _wayes_,
Which tend to well-deserved _praise_.
How, _Honour_, therefore, may be got,
Thou art informed by thy _Lot_;
And, with what _Foes_, and, for what _end_,
Thou shouldst be ready to contend.

See, _Emb._ XLVIII.

49

Perhaps, thou mayst be one of those,
Who doth _God’s_ holy Church oppose;
For, over many in these dayes,
Disturbe her _Peace_, and sleight her _Praise_:
That her _esteeme_, therefore may bee
Increased, or preserv’d, by thee,
Thine _Emblem_, now, to thee, will show,
To what perfection she will grow.

See, _Emb._ XLIX.

50

Thou _safety_ lov’st, and wouldst have _Armes_,
Thy person to secure from harmes:
But, most of those thou hast prepar’d,
Are but a weake uncertaine _Guard_,
And, if thou take not greater heed,
May faile thy trust, in time of need.
Thine _Emblem_, therfore, hath exprest,
What _Armes_, for thy defence are best.

See, _Emb._ L.

51

Of _Planetary-Calculations_,
Of _Superstitious-Observations_,
Of _Lots_, and _Dreames_, and _Accidents_,
Which have but casuall events,
Thou art so fond; and, unto such,
Thou dost adhere, and trust so much,
That, it succeedeth very well,
No _Emblem_, now, to thee befell:
Lest, these, which onely _Counsells_ bee,
Might seeme firme _Destinies_ to thee.

52

He that by drawing, here, his _Lot_,
Some caveat or advice hath got,
Did, peradventure, need alone
That _Caution_, which he lighted on:
But, unto thee, so needfull are
All _Warnings_, and, all _Counsells_ here,
That, _Fortune_ will not _one_ bestow,
Lest, thou may’st thinke thou need’st no moe.

53

You, may be glad, you drew not that,
Which, in your thought, you guessed at;
For, so it points out that _condition_,
Whereof you give a great suspicion,
That, had it such an _Emblem_ nam’d,
As fits you right, you had beene sham’d.
Since, then, your fault is unreveal’d,
Amend, and keep it still conceal’d.

54

The _Muses_ Oracle is dumbe,
Because to tempt them you are come;
For, in your _heart_, you much despise,
To follow that, which they advise:
Their admonitions, you doe jeere,
And, scorne to helpe your _Wisedome_, here.
The _Muses_, therefore, leave you, still,
To be as foolish, as you will.

5

It would, perhaps, have made thee proud,
If, now, thy _Lot_ had beene allow’d
To let an _Emblem_ shadow forth
What is conceived of thy _worth_.
Or, if thy _Vertues_ were descry’d,
Perchance, thou wouldst be more envy’d
Then praysed, when they are exprest;
A _Blanke_ for thee, was therefore best.

6

No _Emblem_, to this _Lot_, replyes;
Minde, therefore, well (I thee advise)
What from the _Preacher’s_ voice thou hear’st,
When in the _Church_, thou next appear’st:
Yea, there indeavour thou, to seeke
Thy _Lot_ of _Counsell_, ev’ry weeke.
For, at all seasons, there will bee
Such _Prophecies_, concerning thee,
That, if of those, thou takest heed,
These _Emblems_, thou shalt never need.

_FINIS._

A
COLLECTION
OF
EMBLEMES,
ANCIENT AND
MODERNE:

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

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

_By_ GEORGE WITHER.

_The third Booke._

LONDON,
Printed by AVGVSTINE MATHEWES.
MDCXXXIV.

TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS
Princesse, _FRANCIS_, Dutchesse Dowager
_of_ RICHMOND, _and_ LENNOX, _&c._

Fame sayes (great PRINCESSE) that the _Pow’rs-above_,
Will soone forgive; which, I desire to prove:
For, I am guiltie of a _Venial-sinne_
Against your GRACE; and, have remain’d therein
Without an _Absolution_, so long time,
That, now, my _Conscience_ checks me for the _Crime_;
And, to reprove me for it, will not cease
Till I have, someway, sought to make my _Peace_.
To palliate my _Fault_, I could produce
Enough, perhaps, to stand for an _Excuse_.
But, when I mind what _Favours_, and what _Fame_
I might have purchased unto my _Name_,
(By taking Courage, to have done my best)
I dare not make _Excuses_; but, request
Your pardon, rather, and, that some _Oblation_
May game my _Person_, future acceptation.
To that intent, this humble _Offring_, here,
Within your gracious presence, doth appeare.
And, that it may the more content your eye,
Well-graven _Figures_, help to beautifie
My lowly _Gift_: And, vailed are in these,
A _Treasury_ of Golden _Sentences_;
By my well-meaning _Muse_, interpreted,
That, with your NAME, their Morals may be spread
And scattred, _Largesse-like_, (at your commanding)
To helpe inrich the _Poore in Vnderstanding_.
If YOV accept the _Tender_, I shall know,
Your GRACE is pleased with your _Servant_, so,
As, that there may be hope, my future Actions,
Will give the more contenting Satisfactions:
And, your _Encouragements_, my _Pow’rs_ may raise,
To make the BEAVTIES of your _Later dayes_,
More glorious, far, than your fresh YOVTH’S perfection,
Though, knowne to be, the _Load-stone_ of _Affection_.
For, like the loving TVRTLE, you have stood
So constant, in your vowed _Widdow-hood_;
So strictly, kept a solitarie state;
So faithfull beene, to your deceased MATE;
So firmly true, and truly kinde, to _them_,
Which are the _Branches_ of his _Princely-stemme_;
And, personated in so high a _Straine_,
The parts of HONOVR; that, my rusticke _vaine_,
Must raised be, before it can ascend
To say, how much, your _Fame_, doth you commend.
Yet, if these _Lines_, (or, _that_ they Vsher in)
For me, some _Passage_ may, anew, begin
To your _Esteeme_; I, may so happily,
Illustrate forth, the _Golden-History_
Of those _Affections_, which within your Brest,
Have to the world remained unexprest.
That, future times, to your applause may reade,
The matchlesse _Paterne_ of a _Widdowed-bed_,
Which you have drawne, for those to _imitate_
Who can; and, for the rest to wonder at.
For, what (thereto) yet wanteth, in my _Muse_,
Your GRACE, as my _Minerva_, may infuse.
Nor, will it be in vaine, to shew the worth
Of those _Perfections_, truly blazed forth,
Which you may personate: Nor, shall it be
To your _Content_ unusefull, when you see
The _Best part of your selfe_, (as in a _Glasse_)
Disclosed, and set up, before your GRACE,
To represent those _Beauties_, wherein lurkes,
More sweetnesse, than in _Picture-drawers_ Workes;
And shew, how temp’rall _Glories_, and _Affections_,
Have hourely ripened you, for those _Perfections_
That, make _Immortall_; and, which are that _End_,
Whereto, all Earthly _Graces_, ought to tend.
Then, if your EXCELLENCE, desire to heare,
Those MVSES, honour you, whose prayses are
Attending _Vertue_; and, shall please to live
That _Life of Glory_, which my _Verse_ can give;
Your GRACES favour, (when you please) hath pow’rs
To make both MEE, and all my _Muses_ yours.
And, wee are hopefull, that, so well wee know
Your _Merits_, and those _Duties_, which wee owe,
That, wee shall raise, your HONOVR’S _Trophies_ high,
Though, _Wee our selves_ upon the pavement lie.
Thus, I have made mine _Offring_; and I stand
Attending, now, to kisse your GRACES hand.

_Your GRACES_

_in all humilitie_,

GEO: WITHER.

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY
Prince, _JAMES_, Duke
_of_ LENNOX, _&c._

_When =RICHMOND=, your beloved =Vnkle=, liv’d,
(For whose departure, all this =Empire= griev’d,
And, yet laments) his GRACE did not refuse
To deigne respects, to my obscured MVSE;
Nor scorne, from =Highest-worth=, to stoope so low,
As, mee, in my despisednesse, to know:
And, had not =Bashfulnesse= restrain’d my =Wit=,
From pressing-on, (when he incourag’d it,)
My PEGASVS, had learn’d, e’re now, to rise,
Which, yet, with lame, and sickly =Feathers= flies.
But, HEE hath left us; and, I thought not on
The losse I had of HIM, till he was gone;
Nor could I dreame, till he did hence ascend,
What t’was to want an =Honourable-friend=:
Nor, what they feele, whom =Fate= constraines, to tarry
On stormy Plaines, without a SANCTVARIE.
Assoone, as from among us, he made wing,
My =Hopes= did waine, and, I began to sing
A =Mournfull-song=, not easie to forget;
Because, I beare the =burthen= of it, yet.
Nor was I silent (though my =Epicede=
Appear’d not, for the publike eye to reade)
But, griev’d in private, as one wanting =Art=,
To give, the =Life of praise=, to his desart:
Which, if I could have equall’d with his =Name=,
His =Death= had gain’d my =Verse=, a =living-Fame=.
And, why expresse I this? except it give
Your GRACE, a fit occasion to perceive,
That, my decayed =Hopes= I would renew,
And, faine derive them downe, from HIM to YOV?
That, as you branched from his Princely =Stemme=;
(Are, honour’d with his =Ducall-Diadem=)
And, imitate his Vertue; So, you might
Be =Lord=, in mee, of that, which was his right:
And, for his Noble sake, vouchsafe to own
A =Servant=, which, to you, is yet unknowne.
As =Prologue=, to the service I intend,
This PRESENT comes; and, without =Hope=, or =End=,
Of gaining further =Grace=, or more =Esteeme=,
Than may, with humblest modestie, beseeme
His =Love=, and =Honest-meaning=, to expect,
Whose =Merits= have, no visible effect,
Conducing to your profit; and, from whom
The best of his intents, are yet to come.
I cannot thinke, these =Lots=, or =Emblems=, are
So worthy in themselves, as they’l appeare
In your acceptance; Or, that they can give,
Such Grace to YOV, as they’l from you receive.
Yet, if YOV please, they may be, otherwhile,
A profitable Meanes, to help beguile
A Melancholy thought; And, have the pow’r
To shorten (without losse) a tedious howre.
Sometime (no doubt) content you are to walke
In =Artlesse Groves=; Or, to admit the talke
of Rustick =Swaines= (though ev’ry day you might
Your self in well-trim’d =garden-bowr’s=, delight,
Or, heare the learnedst =Muses=, when you please;)
Ev’n so, for change, you may, perhaps, in these
A =Recreation= finde; and, in some measure,
A =Profit=, intermixed with your =Pleasure=.
I will not make my =Promises= too large,
Lest, my =Performances=, they overcharge
With =Expectation=: but, I leave them, SIR,
To =Bee=, and to =be thought=, the same they are.
And, if your EXCELLENCE, (when you behold
The Ground whereon I first became so bold,
To make this Entrance) shall vouchsafe to daigne
Those =Favours=, which, I dare not thinke to gaine
By =Meer-deserving=; you may then, perchance,
My =Willingnesse=, to =Ablenesse= advance:
And, reap in =Mee= (when ripened they are grown)
Some timely =fruits=, of that, which =you= have sown.
Till then, let it suffice, that I professe
A cheerefull, and a thankfull Readinesse
To honour YOV; and, openly to show
The Dutie, which, it may appeare, I owe
To HIM that’s gone. And, let your GRACE descend
To take this =Pledge=, of what I more intend._

Who am in all humilitie

Your GRACES to be

commanded,

GEO: WITHER.

_If well thou dost, and well intend,
Thou shalt be crowned, in the end._

ILLVSTR. I. _Book. 3_]

When, many, for the chiefest _Garland_ runne,
That height of _Glory_, can befall but one;
Yet, _Wreaths_ there are, for ev’ry man prepar’d,
According as he meriteth _reward_:
And, though the _Worke_ deserveth little meed,
_Grace_, prints a worth, on ev’ry _willing-deed_,
Which formes it currant; and, doth gratious make
Man’s weake endeavors, for GOD’S _promise_ sake.
All seeke the selfe-same _prize_; but, doe not seeke,
With _mindes_, and, with _endeavors_, all alike.
Most, wish the _Wreath_; but, few those things will doe,
That may be helpfull to attaine thereto:
And, some (that _will be doing_) more delight
In _doing their owne will_, then _doing right_.
One, thinkes by airie _titles_, to atchieve
The _Palme_ he seekes; Another, doth believe
Tis gain’d, by giving to his _Appetite_,
The fulnesse of his _Bodies_ vaine delight:
To reach their _aime_, some others nourish hopes,
By scrambling up unto the dunghill-tops
Of temp’rall _Riches_: and, of all the wayes,
Most thinke this _course_ deserves the greatest _praise_.
But, this our _Emblem’s_ Motto, doth implie,
That, nothing Man possesseth outwardly
Can purchase him the _Crowne_, that should be sought,
Like _rightly-doing_, what is _rightly-taught_.
And, that _God_ never passed any _doome_,
To barre their _blisse_, who righteous would become:
For, ev’n to _Cain_ he said (of sinne detected)
_If well thou dost, thou shalt be well respected_.

_A little =Wit=, may stand in stead,
When =Strength= doth faile, in time of need._

ILLVSTR. II. _Book. 3_]

The _Squirrell_, when shee must goe seeke her food,
By making passage through some neighb’ring _flood_,
(And feares to be devoured by the Streame)
Thus, helpes her weaknesse, by a _Stratagem_.
On _blocks_, or _chips_, which on the waves doe flote,
She nimbly leaps; and, making them her boate
(By helpe of Windes, of Current, and of Tide)
Is wafted over to the further side.
Thus, that, which for the _Body_ proves unfit,
Must often be acquired by the _Wit_.
And, what our outward _Fortunes_ shall denye,
Our _providence_ must labour to supply.
Those _Casualties_, which may our need befriend,
We should with heedfull diligence attend;
And, watch to seize those _opportunities_,
Which, men of abler fortunes may despise.
Some Birds, when they an _Oyster_ would unlock,
Mount up, and let it fall upon a Rock;
And, when the Cockles on the Shores lye gasping,
(At ev’ry Tides approach their Shells unclasping)
Crowes cast in _Pebles_, and so take that meat
By _craft_, which by their _force_ they could not get.
Wee, by indeav’ring thus, may gaine, at length,
That, which at first appeares above our strength.
By little _Screwes_ an entrance we may make,
Where _Barres of Iron_ cannot passage breake.
Small _Engines_, lift huge weights; and, we have heard,
That one _Wise-man_ (though poore without regard)
May save a City, when the _Men of Warre_,
And, all their _Captaines_, at a _non plus_ are.

_To =Kings=, both =Sword= and =Mace= pertaine;
And, these they doe not beare in vaine._

ILLVSTR. III. _Book. 3_]

When thou behold’st, upon a _Day of State_,
The _King_ (or, some inferiour _Magistrate_)
Walke forth in publicke, and the royall _Mace_,
The _Sword_, or _Scepter_ borne before his face:
Suppose thou not, that those are carried, so,
In ostentation, or for idle show.
These vulgar _Emblems_, are significant;
And, that _authority_, which _Princes_ grant
To _Bodies-politicke_, was, heretofore
Declared, by those _Ensignes_, which they bore.
The bruzing _Mace_ (although, perhaps, with us,
It be not in these times, restrained thus)
That branch of _Royall-power_ did signifie,
Which doth by _Fines_, or _losse of liberty_,
Correct Offenders. By the _Sword_, they meant,
That larger branch of _pow’r_, to represent,
Which takes the _Malefactors_ life away;
And, armes it selfe, when _Rebells_ disobay.
As often, therefore, as thou shalt espie
Such _Hieroglyphickes_ of _Authority_;
Be mindefull, and advis’d (how meane soere
The _Persons_, or the _Places_ may appeare,
Who get this _pow’r_) that still thou honour them:
Lest, thou in those, the pow’r of _God_ contemne.
If not for theirs, yet for thy _Sov’raignes_ cause,
Whom these doe personate; Or, for the _Lawes_,
(Which threaten punishment) thy selfe submit;
And, suffer what _Authority_ thinkes fit:
For, whatsoere they be that guide the _Reyne_,
_He_, gave the _pow’r_, who gave it, not, in vaine.

_He, that concealed things will finde,
Must looke =before= him, and =behinde=._

ILLVSTR. IV. _Book. 3_]

That _Head_, which in his _Temple_, heretofore,
The well-knowne figure of old _Ianus_ bore,
Retain’d the forme, which pictur’d here you finde;
_A Face before him, and a Face behinde_.
And this old _Hieroglyphicke_ doth comprize
A multitude of Heathenish Mysteries;
Which, wee omitting, will insist on what
This _Emblem’s_ Motto, chiefely poynteth at.
In true _Divinity_, 'tis _God_ alone,
To whom, all hidden things are truely knowne.
_Hee_, onely, is that _ever-present-being_,
Who, by the vertue of his pow’r all-seeing,
Beholds, at one aspect, all things that _are_,
That ever _shall be_, and that ever _were_.
But, in a Morall-sense, we may apply
This _double-face_, that man to signifie,
Who (whatsoere he undertakes to doe)
Lookes, both _before_ him, and _behinde_ him, too.
For, he shall never fruitfully forecast
Affaires _to come_, who mindes not what is _past_:
And, such as doe not, oft, _before_ them looke,
May lose the labour, that’s already tooke.
By, sometimes, looking _backward_, we behold
Those things, which have been done in _times of old_;
By looking wisely _forward_, we foresee
Such matters, as in _future-times_ will bee:
And, thus, we doe not onely fruits receive,
From that short space of _time_, in which we live;
But, by this meanes, we likewise have a share,
In _times to come_, and, _times that passed are_.

_Good =Fortune= will with him abide,
That hath true =Vertue=, for his guide._

ILLVSTR. V. _Book. 3_]

The _Gryphon_, is the figure of a creature,
Not found within the Catalogues of _Nature_:
But, by those Wits created, who, to shew
_Internall_ things, _externall Figures_ drew:
The Shape, in which this _Fiction_ they exprest,
Was borrow’d from a _Fowle_, and, from a _Beast_;
Importing (when their parts were thus combin’d)
The _Vertues_, both of _Body_, and of _minde_:
And, Men are sayd on _Gryphons_ backes to ride,
When those mixt _Vertues_, them have dignify’d.
The _Stone_ (this _Brute_ supporting) may expresse
The firme abiding, and the solidnesse
Of all true _Vertues_. That, long-winged _Ball_,
Which doth appeare fast-linked therewithall,
The gifts of changing _Fortune_ doth implye:
And, all those things together, signifie,
That, when by such like _Vertues_ Men are guided,
Good _Fortune_ cannot be from them divided.
If this be true (as true I this believe)
Why should wee murmure, why repine, or grieve,
As if our _Studies_, or our honest paines,
Deprived were of some deserved gaines?
Why should we thinke the world hath done us wrong,
Because wee are not register’d among
Those thriving men, who purse up evr’y day,
For _twelve hours labour_ more then _twelve months pay_?
If wee our _paines_ rewarded cannot see,
Wee count our _Merits_ greater then they be.
But if we bide content, our worth is more;
And rich we are, though others think us poore.

_When prosperous our =Affaires= doe growe;
God’s =Grace= it is, that makes them so._

ILLVSTR. VI. _Book. 3_]

Svch pleasant _Flowres_, as here are shadow’d out
(Full-grown, well-trim’d, and strongly fenc’d about)
At first, perchance, had planting (where they stand)
And, husbanding, by some good _Gard’ners_ hand:
But, when to perfect ripenesse, they are grown,
(And, spread forth leaves, and blossomes, fully blowne)
They draw it from the Vertue of the _Sunne_,
Which worketh, when the _Gard’ners_ worke is done:
For, lost were all his Travaile, and his praise,
Vnlesse that _Planet_ cheare them with his rayes.
In this our _Pilgrimage_, it fares with us
(In all our _hopes_, and all our _labours_) thus.
For, whatsoever bus’nesse wee intend,
On _God_, our good successes doe depend.
Our Hands may build; but, structures vaine we make,
Till _God_, to be _Chiefe-builder_, undertake.
To wall a _City_, wee may beare the cost;
But, he must _guard_ it, or, the _Towne_ is lost:
The _Plow-man_ useth diligence to sowe;
But, _God_ must blesse it, or, no Corne will grow:
Yea, though _Paul_ plant, and, though _Apollo_ water,
They spend their sweat, upon a fruitlesse matter,
Till _God_, from heaven, their labours please to blesse,
And crowne their travailes, with a good increase.
Let, therefore, those that flourish, like this _Flowre_,
(And, may be wither’d, e’re another houre)
Give _God_ the praise, for making of their _Seeds_
Bring forth sweet _Flowres_, that, else, had proved Weeds:
And, me despise not, though I thrive not so;
For, _when, God pleaseth, I shall flourish too_.

_If thou thy =Duties= truely doe,
Of thy =Reward=, be hopefull too._

ILLVSTR. VII. _Book. 3_]

Some _Sects_ are found, who so _believing_ be,
They thinke themselves from _legall-workings_ free;
And, so they live, as if they stood in feare
That, with _Good-works_, their _God_ offended were.
Another sort we know, who credit not,
That any hope of _Mercie_ can be got,
Till they themselves, by their _externall-deed_,
Have _merited_ the favours they shall need:
And, so they prize their _workings_; that, for _Grace_,
They seeme to disallow all usefull place.
Both sorts, their errours may be purged from,
When to the _Fiery-tryall_ they shall come.
So, likewise, may another _Faction_ too,
That erre more deadly then these former doe.
These doe (forsooth) affirme, that _God’s_ decree
Before all _Worlds_ (what Words can fouler be?)
Debarr’d the greatest part of _humane-race_,
Without respecting sinne, from hope of _Grace_;
And, that, howere this number shall indeaver,
They must continue _Reprobates_, for ever.
The first, are errours of Impiety;
But, this, ascends the top of blasphemy;
Dispoyles _Religion_ wholly of her fruits;
And, wrongeth _God_ in all his _Attributes_.
These _Errours_, therefore shunne; and, so _believe_,
That wee thy _Faith_, may by thy _Workes_ perceive.
So _worke_, that thy _believing_ may approve
Thou wrought’st not for thy _Wages_; but, for _love_.
For (whatsoe’re thou be) if thus thou doe,
Thou mayst have _hopes_, and, _God_ will grant them too.

_By =Wisedome=, things which passe away,
Are best preserved from decay._

ILLVSTR. VIII. _Book. 3_]

The _Laurell_, which is given for a Crowne
(To men deserving Glory, and renowne)
Is figur’d here, those noble deeds to show,
For which, the _Wreaths_ of _Honour_, we bestow.
Two _Serpents_ (WISDOME’S _Emblems_) twisted are
About this branch of _Lawrell_, to declare,
That, _Wisdome_ is the surest meanes to save
Our Names and Actions, from _Oblivion’s_ Grave.
The _Snakes_ are _two_, perhaps, to signifie
That _Morall-wit_, and _Christian-policie_
(Vnited both together) doe contrive
The safest _guard_, and best _preservative_.
Consider this, all yee, that trust your _Names_
To Marble Monuments; or, mount your _Fames_
By those poore meanes, which Fooles and Knaves pursue;
And, may effect as easily as you:
Nay, with more ease; and, overtop you too,
When you have done the best, your wits can doe.
I say, consider this; and, let the _Pen_
Of learned, wise, and understanding men,
Renowne your worths, and register the story
Of your deserved, and, well-gotten glory;
Lest, else, it suffer close-imprisonments,
Within the walls of such poore _Monuments_,
As oft are built, to leave it quite forgotten,
Whose bones they cover’d, e’re those bones be rotten.
But, you shall best preserve your _Honest-fame_,
Your _Workes_, your _Hopes_, and _Honours_ of your _Name_,
If you your selves be wise; and, so provide
That _Prudence_, all your _Workes_, and _Speeches_ guide.

_Good =Hopes=, we best accomplish may,
By =lab’ring= in a =constant-Way=._

ILLVSTR. IX. _Book. 3_]

Some Folkes there are, (and many men suppose,
That I my selfe, may passe for one of those)
Who many likely Businesses intend,
Yet, bring but very few, unto an end.
Which folly to prevent, this _Emblem_, here,
Did in a luckie houre, perhaps, appeare.
For, as to draw a _Circle_, with our hand,
We cause the brazen _Compasses_ to stand
With one foot firmely fixed one the ground;
And move the other in a _Constant-round_:
Right so, when we shall purpose to proceed
In any just, and profitable deed,
We first, should by a _constant-resolution_,
Stand firme, to what we put in execution:
And, then, with _perseverance_, labour out
Those workings, which we are employ’d about.
For, we with _constant-liking_, must elect
Those Businesses, we purpose to effect:
Or els, our _time_, our _labour_, and our _cost_,
Will, oft, be much in vaine, or wholly lost.
With _constant-labour_, we must follow, too,
Those things, which we resolved are to do;
Or, els, our hopes will never be effected,
How warily soe’re we have projected.
Long Iourneys I abhorre; yet, otherwhile
I meane a _Furlong_, and performe a _Mile_.
I greatly feare _Long-labours_ to begin;
Yet some I finish, when I’me entred in:
And, if in _Labour_, I more _constant_ grow,
How I improve, hereafter, you shall know.

_Ere thou a =fruitfull-Cropp= shalt see,
Thy ground must =plough’d= and =harro’wd= be._

ILLVSTR. X. _Book. 3_]

Before the _Plowman_ hopefull can be made,
His untill’d earth good Hay or Corne will yeeld,
He breakes the hillocks downe, with _Plough_ or _Spade_;
And, harrowes over, all the cloddie Field.
Then, from the _leaveld-ground_, at last, he mowes
That Cropp of grasse, which he had hope to gaine;
Or, there, doth reape the fruit of what he sowes,
With profit, which contents him for his paine.
Our _craggie-Nature_ must be tilled, thus,
Before it will, for _Herbes of Grace_, be fit.
Our _high conceit_, must downe be broke in us;
Our heart is proud, and God must humble it.
Before good _Seed_, in us will rooting take,
_Afflictions_ ploughes and harrowes, must prepare us:
And, that the truer _levell_, he may make,
When we are _sunck_ too low, _Gods_ hand must reare us.
Then, neither stormings of _Adversitie_,
Shall drowne the _Seedes of Hope_, which we have sowne;
Nor shall the _Sunne-beames_ of _Prosperitie_,
Drie up their moisture, ere they ripe are growne.
Oh _Lord_, thou know’st the nature of my _minde_;
Thou know’st my _bodyes_ tempers what they are;
And, by what meanes, they shall be best inclin’de
Such _Fruits_ to yeeld, as they were made to beare.
My barren _Soule_, therefore, _manure_ thou so;
So, _harrow_ it; so _emptie_, and so _fill_;
So _raise_ it _up_, and bring it _downe_, so _low_
As best may lay it _levell_ to thy _Will_.
In _this Desire_, the worke is well begunne;
Say _thou_ the _Word_, and all is fully _done_.

_True =Knowledge= is a constant =Friend=,
Whose =Friendship=, never shall have end._

ILLVSTR. XI. _Book. 3_]

By viewing this _fixt-Head_, enwreath’d with _Bayes_,
(And, what the _Motto_ round about it sayes)
Your Apprehension’s eye, may partly see
What _constant Vertues_, in true _Knowledge_ be.
For, if right plac’d it be, it ever will
Continue in the same condition, still:
And, though it make mens manners to be chang’d;
Yet, never is it, from it selfe, estrang’d:
Nor doth, nor can it, cease to be a _Friend_,
What _Fate_ soever, shall on us attend.
When _Wealth_ is lost, or faileth to besteed us;
Shee findes out honest meanes to cloath and feede us.
In _farre_, and _forraigne Lands_, shee will become,
As kinde, and as familiar, as at home;
And, _travelleth_, without the costly cumber,
Of Carriages, or Clokebagges full of Lumber.
No _Place_ can from our presence, her enclose;
Nor is she frighted from us by our _Foes_.
No _Pickthankes_, of her Favours, can bereave us;
No _Promises_, can woo her to deceive us.
In _Youth_, in _Age_, in _Sickenesse_, and in _Griefe_,
Shee bringeth Consolation and reliefe:
And, is in all estates, a blessing to us,
So constant (and so apt, all helpes to doe us)
That, he for whom, such _Knowledge_, God provideth,
Enjoyes a _Friend_, that alwaies firme abideth.
_Lord_, I am _friendlesse_ left; therefore, to me,
This _Knowledge_, and this _Friend_, vouchsafe to bee:
For, thou that _Wisdome_ art, (from heav’n descending)
Which, neither hath _beginning_, _change_, nor _ending_.

_By =Studiousnesse=, in =Vertue’s= waies
Men gaine an =universall-praise=._

ILLVSTR. XII. _Book. 3_]

When _Emblems_, of too many parts consist,
Their Author was no choice _Emblematist_:
But, is like those, that wast whole _howres_, to tell
What, in three _minutes_, might be said as well.
Yet, when each member is interpreted,
Out of these vulgar _Figures_, you may read
A _Morall_, (altogether) not unfit
To be remembred, ev’n, by _men of wit_.
And, if the _Kernell_ proove to be of worth,
No matter from what shell we drew it forth.
The _Square_ whereon the _Globe_ is placed, here,
Must _Vertue_ be; That _Globe_ upon the _Square_,
Must meane the _World_; The _Figure_, in the _Round_,
(Which in appearance doth her _Trumpet_ sound)
Was made for _Fame_; The _Booke_ she beares, may show,
What _Breath_ it is, which makes her _Trumpet_ blow:
The _Wreath_, inclosing all, was to intend
A glorious _Praise_, that never shall have end:
And, these, in one summ’d up, doe seeme to say;
That, (if men _study_ in a _vertuous-way_)
The _Trumpet_ of a never-ceasing _Fame_,
Shall through the _world_ proclaime their praisefull _Name_.
Now _Reader_, if large _Fame_, be thy ambition,
This _Emblem_ doth informe, on what condition
She may be gain’d. But, (herein, me beleeve)
Thy _studie_ for meere-praise, will thee deceive:
And, if thy _Vertues_, be, but onely, those
For which the vulgar _Fame_, her _Trumpet_ blowes,
Thy _Fame’s_ a blast; Thy _Vertues_, Vices be;
Thy _Studie’s_ vaine; and, _shame_ will follow thee.

_Above thy =Knowledge=, doe not rise,
But, =with Sobrietie, be wise=,_

ILLVSTR. XIII. _Book. 3_]

_Exalt thou not thy selfe_, though, plac’d thou be,
Vpon the topp of that old _Olive-tree_,
From whence the nat’rall branches prun’d have bin,
That, thou, the better, mightst be grafted in.
Be not so _over-wise_, as to presume
The _Gard’ner_, for thy goodnesse, did assume
Thy small _Crab-Olive_, to insert it, there,
Where, once, the _sweetest-berries_, growing were:
Nor let thy Pride those few _old-boughes_ contemne,
Which, yet, remaine upon their ancient _Stemme_;
Because, thy new-incorporated _Sprayes_,
Doe more enjoy the _Sunnes_ refreshing raies:
But, humbled rather, and, more awfull bee;
Lest, _hee_ that cut off _them_, doe breake downe _thee_.
Be _wise_, in what may to thy good, belong;
But, seeke not _Knowledge_, to thy neighbours wrong:
Be thankefull for the _Grace_ thou hast receiv’d,
But, judge not those, who seeme thereof bereav’d;
Nor into those forbidden _secrets_ peepe,
Which _God-Almighty_, to himselfe doth keepe.
Remember what our Father _Adam_ found,
When he for _Knowledge_, sought beyond his bound.
For, doubtlesse, ever since, both _good_ and _ill_
Are left with _Knowledge_, intermingled still;
And, (if we be not humble, meeke, and warie)
We are in daily danger, to miscary.
Large, proves the fruit which on the _Earth_ doth lie;
_Windes_, breake the twigge, that’s grafted _over-high_;
And, he that will, beyond his bounds, be _wise_,
Becomes a very _Foole_, before he dies.

_When each man keepes unto his =Trade=,
Then, all things better will be made._

ILLVSTR. XIV. _Book. 3_]

We more should thrive, and erre the seldomer,
If we were like this honest _Carpenter_,
Whose _Emblem_, in reproofe of those, is made,
That love to meddle, farther then their _Trade_.
But, most are now exceeding cunning growne
In ev’ry mans affaires, except their owne:
Yea, _Coblers_ thinke themselves not onely able,
To censure; but, to mend _Apelles_ Table.
_Great-Men_, sometime, will gravely undertake
To teach, how _Broomes_ and _Morter_, we should make.
Their Indiscretions, _Peaants_ imitate,
And boldly meddle with affaires of _State_.
Some _Houswives_ teach their _Teachers_ how to pray,
Some _Clarks_, have shew’d themselves, as wise as they;
And in their Callings, as discreet have bin,
As if they taught their _Grandames_ how to _spinne_:
And, if these _Customes_, last a few more Ages,
All Countries will be nothing els, but _Stages_
Of evill-acted, and mistaken parts;
Or, _Gallemaufries_, of imperfect _Arts_.
But, I my selfe (you’l say) have medlings made,
In things, that are improper to my _Trade_.
No; for, the _MVSES_ are in all things free;
Fit subject of their _Verse_, all Creatures be;
And, there is nothing nam’d so meane, or great,
Whereof they have not Liberty to treat.
Both _Earth_ and _Heav’n_, are open unto these;
And (when to take more libertie they please)
They _Worlds_, and _things_, create, which never were;
And, when they list, they _play_, and _meddle_, there.

_A =Shepherd= carefull of the Sheepe,
At all times, faithfull =Watch= doth keepe._

ILLVSTR. XV. _Book. 3_]

The Figure of a _Storke_ in elder dayes,
Was us’d in _Hieroglyphick_, many wayes:
But, when _one Foote_, thus grasp’d a _Peple-stone_,
The other being firmely fixed on
The _Staffe Episcopall_; in that position,
It makes an Emblem, of a late edition:
By some, thought not improper, to expresse
Their painefull, and their serious, _watchfulnesse_,
Who take upon themselves, the _Pastorall care_;
And, in that _Function_, truely _watchfull_ are.
The _Shepherds-Crooke_, doth some expression make
Of that regard, which, of their _Flocks_, they take.
The _Peble in the Foote_, doth seeme to showe,
That, these must farther diligence bestowe,
(And, use their utmost pow’r) themselves to keepe
From _slothfull Ease_; and from intemp’rate _sleepe_:
For, he that hath such _Duties_ undertooke,
(And, must the lives of others overlooke)
Shall finde himselfe, unto himselfe become
A burthen, and a Charge more troublesome
Then all his _Flocke_, unles, he still provide
His owne, aswell as others _waies_, to guide.
Now, though this _Emblems_ Morall doth concerne
The _Clergie_ most; yet, hence we all may learne
Strict _watch_ to keepe; since, unto all that bee,
A _Watchmans_ place belongs, in some degree.
Which, to discharge, if wee endeavour, still,
Our universall _Shepherd_ aide us will,
And us from harmes, and error he will keepe,
For, _Hee that guardeth Isr’ell doth not sleepe_.

_Our Dayes, untill our Life hath end,
In =Labours=, and in =Hopes=, wee spend._

ILLVSTR. XVI. _Book. 3_]

As soone as our _first Parents_ disobey’d,
Forthwith a _Curse_, for their offence, was layd,
Inforcing them, and their succeeding race,
To get their Food, with sweatings of the Face.
But, afterward, this _Doome_ to mitigate,
(And ease the miseries of their estate)
_God_ gave them _Hope_, that she might helpe them beare
The burthens of their Travaile, and their care.
A _Woman_ with an _Anchor_, and a _Spade_,
An _Emblem_ of that _Mystery_ is made:
And, this Estate, wee all continue in,
By God’s free _Mercie_, and our proper _Sinne_.
By _Sinne_, the _Labour_ is on us intail’d;
By _Grace_, it is, that _Hoping_ hath not fail’d;
And, if in _Hope_, our Labours wee attend,
That _Curse_ will prove a _Blessing_, in the end.
My Lot is _Hope_, and _Labour_; and, betweene
These _Two_, my Life-time hath prolonged beene:
Yet, hitherto, the best of all my _Paine_,
With most of all my _Hopes_ have beene in vaine;
And to the World-ward, I am like to wast
My time in fruitlesse _labours_, till the last.
However, I have still my _Hopes_ as faire
As hee, that hath no temptings to _Despaire_;
And, change I will not, my _last howres_ for theirs,
Whose _Fortune_, more desirable appeares;
Nor cease to _Hope_ and _Labour_, though, of most,
My _Hope_ and _Labour_ be adjudged lost:
For, though I lose the _shaddow_ of my _Paines_,
The _stubstance_ of it, still, in _God_, remaines.

_Man’s life, no =Temper=, more doth blesse,
Then =Simple-prudent-harmelessenesse=._

ILLVSTR. XVII. _Book. 3_]

When from the harmelesse _Turtle_, and the _Snake_,
Their most commended _properties_ wee take,
(And, mixe them well) they make a composition,
Which yeelds a _temper_ of the best condition.
Yet, _wickednesse_, or _sorrow_, doth abound,
Where, any _one_ of these, _alone_, is found:
For, whensoe’re the _Serpents-braine_ we find,
With which, there is no _Dove-like-meekenesse_ joyn’d,
(Without all peradventure) thence proceedes,
All harmefull fraud, and all injurious deedes.
And, where such _meekenesse_ as doth seeme to be
In harmelesse _Doves_, divided you shall see
From that _discretion_, and that _policie_,
Which in the _Serpents_ head, is thought to lie;
They liable to ev’ry wrong become;
And, to it selfe, make _Vertue_ burthensome.
But, where these two are ioyned, they procure
A life so sweet, so rich, and so secure,
That, all the pow’rs of _Malice_ cannot shake
Their _out-workes_, nor _within_ them, terrors make.
_Vouchsafe thou oh my God! vouchsafe, in me,
That these two =Vertues= may vnited be.
Such =Prudence= give, as never will disdaine
The =Dove-like Innocencie=, to retaine.
That =meekenesse=, grant me, which delighteth not,
It selfe, with =indiscretion=, to besot:
But, let these =two=, each other so defend,
And, so, in me continue, till my end,
That, =simple-prudence=, I may still possesse,
Although the World shall count it =foolishnesse=._

_Where er’e we dwell, the =Heav’ns= are neere;
Let us but =fly=, and wee are there._

ILLVSTR. XVIII. _Book. 3_]

Why, with a trembling faintnesse, should we feare
The face of _Death_? and, fondly linger here,
As if we thought the _Voyage_ to be gone
Lay through the shades of _Styx_ or _Acheron_?
Or, that we either were to travell downe
To uncouth _Deapthes_, or up some _heights_ unknowne?
Or, to some place remote, whose nearest end
Is farther then Earths limits doe extend?
It is not by one halfe that distance, thither
Where _Death_ lets in, as it is any whither:
No not by halfe so farre, as to your bed;
Or, to that place, where you should rest your head,
If on the ground you layd your selfe (ev’n there)
Where at this moment you abiding are.
This _Emblem_ shewes (if well you looke thereon)
That, from your _Glasse of life_, which is to run,
There’s but one step to _Death_; and, that you tread
_At once_, among the _Living_, and, the _Dead_.
In whatsoever _Land_, we _live_ or _die_,
_God_ is the same; And, _Heav’n_ is, there, as nigh
As in that _place_, wherein, we most desire
Our _Soules_, with our last breathing, to expire.
Which things, well heeding; let us not delay
Our _Iourney_, when we summon’d are away,
(As those inforced _Pilgrims_ use to doe,
That know not whither, nor, how farre they goe)
Nor let us dreame that we in _Time_, or _Place_,
Are farre from ending our uncertaine _Race_.
But, let us fix on _Heav’n_, a faithfull eye,
And, still, be _flying thither_, till wee die.

_His =Pace=, must =wary= be, and =slow=,
That hath a =Slippery-way= to goe._

ILLVSTR. XIX. _Book. 3_]

A Travailer, when he must undertake
To seek his passage, o’re some _Frozen Lake_,
With _leisure_, and with _care_, he will assay
The glassy smoothnesse of that _Icie-way_,
Lest he may _slip_, by walking over-fast;
Or, breake the crackling _Pavement_, by his hast:
And, so (for want of better taking heed)
Incurre the mischiefes of _Vnwary-speed_.
We are all _Travellers_; and, all of us
Have many passages, as dangerous,
As _Frozen-lakes_; and, _Slippery-wayes_, we tread,
In which our Lives may soone be forfeited,
(With all our hopes of _Life-eternall_, too)
Unlesse, we well consider what we doe.
There is no private _Way_, or publicke _Path_,
But rubs, or holes, or slipp’rinesse it hath,
Whereby, wee shall with _Mischiefes_ meet; unlesse,
Wee walke it, with a _stedfast-warinesse_.
The steps to _Honour_, are on _Pinacles_
Compos’d of melting Snow, and Isicles;
And, they who tread not nicely on their tops,
Shall on a suddaine slip from all their _hopes_.
Yea, ev’n that way, which is both sure and holy,
And, leades the Minde from Vanities and Folly,
Is with so many other _Path-wayes_ crost,
As, that, by Rashnesse, it may soone be lost;
Vnlesse, we well deliberate, upon
Those _Tracts_, in which our _Ancestours_ have gone:
And, they who with more _haste_, then _heed_, will runne,
May lose the way, in which they well begunne.

_Our =Pelican=, by bleeding, thus,
Fulfill’d the =Law=, and cured =Vs=._

ILLVSTR. XX. _Book. 3_]

Looke here, and marke (her sickly birds to feed)
How freely this kinde _Pelican_ doth bleed.
See, how (when other _Salves_ could not be found)
To cure their sorrowes, she, her selfe doth wound;
And, when this holy _Emblem_, thou shalt see,
Lift up thy soule to him, who dy’d for thee.
For, this our _Hieroglyphick_ would expresse
That _Pelican_, which in the _Wildernesse_
Of this vast _World_, was left (as all alone)
Our miserable _Nature_ to bemone;
And, in whose eyes, the teares of pitty stood,
When he beheld his owne unthankfull _Brood_
His _Favours_, and his _Mercies_, then, contemne,
When with his wings he would have brooded them:
And, sought their endlesse peace to have confirm’d,
Though, to procure his ruine, they were arm’d.
To be their _Food_, himselfe he freely gave;
His _Heart_ was pierc’d, that he their _Soules_ might save.
Because, they disobey’d the _Sacred-will_,
He, did the _Law of Righteousnesse_ fulfill;
And, to that end (though guiltlesse he had bin)
Was offred, for our _Vniversall-sinne_.
Let mee Oh _God_! for ever, fixe mine eyes
Vpon the Merit of that _Sacrifize_:
Let me retaine a due commemoration
Of those deare _Mercies_, _and_ that bloudy _Passion_,
Which here is meant; and, by true _Faith_, still, feed
Vpon the drops, this _Pelican_ did bleed;
Yea, let me firme unto thy _Law_ abide,
And, ever love that _Flocke_, for which he dy’d.

_Bee =Iust=; for, neither =Sea= nor =Land=,
Shall hide thee from the =Royall-hand=._

ILLVSTR. XXI. _Book. 3_]

That, which wee call the _Sea-horse_, is a Creature,
Whereby the Priests of _Ægypt_, wonted were,
To typify an _Ill-disposed nature_;
And, such, as to their _Parents_, cruell are:
Because, this _Monster_ (as their _Authors_ write)
When strong he growes, becommeth so ingrate,
That he pursues, with violent despight,
His old and weakly _Sire_, which him begate.
Contrariwise, the _Storke_, they figur’d, then,
When they occasion had, to signifie
The good condition, of those honest men,
Who pleasure take, in workes of _Piety_:
Because, the _Storkes_, not onely harmed none,
But, holpe their aged _Parents_ in their need;
And, those offensive _Serpents_, prey’d upon,
Which, in the Fennes of _Ægypt_, yearely, breed.
The _Royall-Crowne_, therefore, supporting thus
That pious _Fowle_, and overtopping, here,
The wicked, and the fierce _Hyppotamus_,
May serve to _comfort_, and to keep in _feare_.
For, it informes, that, if we pious grow,
And love our _Princes_ (who those _Parents_ bee,
To whom all _Subjects_, filiall duties owe)
The blessings of their _Favours_, we shall see.
It shewes us, also, that, if we affect
_Vnrighteous-wayes_, no _Wit_, or _Strength_ of our,
Nor any _Vncouth-place_, shall us protect
From being reached, by the _Sov’raigne-power_.
The way of _Iustice_, therefore, learne thou still,
For love of _Goodnesse_, or for feare of _Ill_.

_Take wing, my =Soule=, and mount up higher;
For, =Earth=, fulfills not my =Desire=._

ILLVSTR. XXII. _Book. 3_]

When _Ganymed_, himselfe was purifying,
Great _Iupiter_, his naked beauty spying,
Sent forth his _Ægle_ (from below to take him)
A blest Inhabitant, in Heav’n to make him:
And, there (as Poets feigned) he doth still,
To _Iove_, and other _God-heads_, Nectar fill.
Though this be but a _Fable_, of their feigning,
The _Morall_ is a _Reall truth_, pertayning
To ev’ry one (which harbours a desire
Above the Starry _Circles_, to aspire.)
By _Ganymed_, the _Soule_ is understood,
That’s washed in the _Purifying flood_
Of sacred _Baptisme_ (which doth make her seeme
Both pure and beautifull, in _God’s_ esteeme.)
The _Ægle_, meanes that Heav’nly _Contemplation_,
Which, after Washings of _Regeneration_,
Lifts up the _Minde_, from things that earthly bee,
To view those _Objects_, which _Faith’s_ Eyes doe see.
The _Nectar_, which is filled out, and given
To all the blest _Inhabitants of Heaven_,
Are those _Delights_, which (_Christ_ hath sayd) they have,
When some _Repentant-soule_ beginnes to leave
Her foulnesse; by renewing of her _birth_,
And, slighting all the _Pleasures_ of the Earth.
I aske not, _Lord_, those Blessings to receive,
Which any Man hath pow’r to take, or give;
Nor, what this World affords; for, I contemne
Her Favours; and have seene the best of them:
Nay, _Heav’n_ it selfe, will unsufficient bee,
Vnlesse, _Thou_, also, give _Thy selfe_, to mee.

_Through many spaces, =Time= doth run,
And, =endeth=, where it first =begun=._

ILLVSTR. XXIII. _Book. 3_]

Old _Sages_ by the Figure of the Snake
(Encircled thus) did oft expression make
Of _Annuall-Revolutions_; and of things,
Which wheele about in _everlasting-rings_;
There _ending_, where they first of all _begun_,
And, there _beginning_, where the _Round_ was _done_.
Thus, doe the _Planets_; Thus, the _Seasons_ doe;
And, thus, doe many other _Creatures_, too.
By minutes, and by houres, the _Spring_ steales in,
And, rolleth on, till _Summer_ doth begin:
The _Summer_ brings on _Autumne_, by degrees;
So ripening, that the eye of no man sees
Her Entrances. That _Season_, likewise, hath
To _Winter-ward_, as leasurely a path:
And, then, cold _Winter_ wheeleth on amaine,
Vntill it brings the _Spring_ about againe,
With all those _Resurrections_, which appeare,
To wait upon her comming, every yeare.
These _Roundells_, helpe to shew the _Mystery_
Of that immense and blest _Eternitie_,
From whence the CREATURE sprung, and, into _whom_
It shall, againe, with full perfection come,
When those _Additions_, it hath fully had,
Which all the sev’rall _Orbes_ of _Time_ can add.
It is a full, and fairely written _Scrowle_,
Which up into it selfe, it selfe doth rowle;
And, by _Vnfolding_, and, _Infolding_, showes
A _Round_, which neither _End_, nor _entrance_ knowes.
And (by this _Emblem_) you may partly see,
Tis that which _IS_, but, cannot uttred be.

_Each =Day= a =Line=, small =tasks= appeares:
Yet, much it makes in threescore Yeares._

ILLVSTR. XXIV. _Book. 3_]

Here’s but _one Line_; and, but _one Line a Day_,
Is all the _taske_ our _Motto_, seemes to lay:
And, that is thought, perhaps, a thing so small,
As if it were as good bee nought at all.
But, be not so deceiv’d; For, oft you see
_Small things_ (in time) _great matters_, rise to be:
Yea, that, which when the same was first begun,
A _Trifle_ seem’d, (and easie to be done)
By long nelect of time, will _burthensome_,
And, at the last, _impossible_, become.
Great _Clarkes_, there are, who shall not leave behinde them,
One good _Weekes_ worke, for _Future-Times_ to minde them,
(In _Callings_, either Humane, or Divine)
Who, by composing but _each Day a Line_,
Might _Authors_, of some famous _Workes_ appeare,
In sixtie, seventie, or in eightie yeare;
To which, ten hundred thousands have arrived
Of whom, we see no signe that ev’r they lived.
And, with much pleasure, wee might all effect,
Those needfull _Works_, which often we neglect,
(Vntill too late). If we but, now and then
Did spare one houre to exercise the penn.
For, still, _one-Line_, another draweth on,
And, _Line_ by _Line_, great _Workes_ at last are done.
Whereas, _dis-use_, and many dayes mispent,
Without their _Lines_, let in _discouragement_,
Or, bring _Despaire_; which doth so sottish make us,
That we, to no endeavour can betake us.
Marke this, and, labour in some honest _Way_,
As much as makes, at least, _One Line a Day_,

_Our outward =Hopes= will take effect,
According to the =King’s= aspect._

ILLVSTR. XXV. _Book. 3_]

When _Phœbus_ with a cheerefull eye, beholds
The Flow’r-embroydred earth, and freely spreads
His beames abroad; behold, the _Marigolds_
Beginne to reare their low-dejected heads:
The _Tulips_, _Daysies_, and the _Heliotropes_
Of ev’ry kinde, their closed Leaves display;
And (as it were) with new-recover’d hopes,
Attend upon the _Ruler of the Day_.
Againe, when either in the _West_ he shrowds
His Rayes below this _Horizon_, or hides
His Face behinde the Curtaines of the _Cloudes_;
They lose their beauties, and abate their prides.
Thus fares it with a _Nation_, and their _King_,
'Twixt whom there is a native Sympathy.
His _Presence_, and his _Favours_, like the _Spring_,
Doe make them sweetly thrive, and fructify:
Yea (like fresh _Groves_, or _Flow’rs_ of pleasing hew)
Themselves in all their jollity they showe;
But, they, if with displeasure, them he view,
Soone lose their Glory, and contemned growe.
All, are not _Heliotropes_ that favour’d growe,
In _Princes_ Courts; nor _Marigolds_, that beare
The golden blossomes; but some spring below,
Like _Daysie flow’rs_, that in the Pathwayes are:
Yet all shall feele it, when their _Sov’raignes_ eye
Doth frowne, or smile, regard, or else neglect:
Yea, it will finde them in _Obscurity_,
By some Disheartning, or some sweet _Effect_,
Vouchsafe to shine on Mee, my Gracious _King_,
And then my _Wither’d_ Leaves, will freshly spring.

_The =Right-hand way=, is =Vertues= Path,
Though rugged Passages it hath._

ILLVSTR. XXVI. _Book. 3_]

If any covet knowledge of that _Path_,
Which thither tends, where _Peace_ her dwelling hath,
This _Emblem_ (being well observ’d) will show
On whether side, it will be best to goe.
The _Left-hand-way_, seemes to be walk’d, at ease,
Through Lawnes, and Downes, and green-swath’d Passages;
And, much allures the _Traveller_, to trie
The many Pleasures, which doe that _Way_ lye.
The _Right-hand-course_, is through a _Pathlesse-mound_
Of newly ploughed, and deep-furrow’d Ground;
Which, as uneasie seemeth, to be gone,
As, in appearance, rough to looke upon.
Yet, this is _Vertue’s Path_: This _Way_ uneven,
Is that, which unto ev’ry man is given,
To travaile in; and, hath a safer ending,
Then those, whereon more _Pleasures_ are attending:
And (though it leades us thither, where we see
Few promises of outward _Glories_ bee)
It brings (us when we passe the common sight)
Through easy _Tracts_, to gaine our _Hearts delight_.
The other _Way_ (though seeming streight, it lyes,
To _Pleasure’s_ Pallaces, before our eyes)
Hath many rubs, and perills, which betweene
Our _Hopes_, and _Vs_, will alwayes lurke unseene;
Till we are drawne so farre, that 'twill be vaine,
To seeke, with safety, to returne againe.
This, let us heed; and, still be carefull, too,
Which _Course_ it most concerneth us to goe.
And, though the _Left-hand-way_, more smoothnesse hath,
Let us goe forward, in the _Right-hand-path_.

_=I= was erected for a =Bound=,
And I resolve to =stand my ground=._

ILLVSTR. XXVII. _Book. 3_]

The _Bounder-Stones_, held sacred, heretofore,
Some did so superstitiously adore,
As, that they did not onely rev’rence doe them,
But, have ascrib’d a kinde of _God-head_, to them:
For, _Terminus_ had many a _Sacrifize_,
As well as other senslesse _Deities_.
I am not so prophane, as to desire
Such Ethnick zeale should set our hearts on fire:
But, wish I could, Men better did regard
Those _Bounders_, which _Antiquity_ hath rear’d;
And, that, they would not, with so much delight,
There, make _incroachments_, where they have no _right_.
That, ev’ry man might keep his owne _Possessions_,
Our Fathers, us’d in reverent _Processions_
(With zealous prayers, and with praisefull cheere)
To walke their _Parish-limits_, once a yeare:
And, well knowne _Markes_ (which sacrilegious Hands
Now cut or breake) so bord’red out their Lands,
That, ev’ry one distinctly knew his owne;
And, many brawles, now rife, were then unknowne.
But, since neglected, sacred _Bounders_ were,
Most men _Incroachers_, and _Intruders_ are:
They grieve each other, and their _Dues_ they steale,
From _Prince_, from _Parent_, and from _Common-weale_.
Nay, more; these bold Vsurpers are so rude,
That, they, on _Christ’s_ Inheritance intrude.
But, that will be aveng’d; and (on his _right_)
Though such incroach, he will not lose it quite:
For, hee’s that _Bounder_, and that _Corner-stone_,
Who all _confines_, and is _confin’d_, of none.

_Where =Lovers= fitly matched be,
In =mutuall-duties=, they agree_.

ILLVSTR. XXVIII. _Book. 3_]

Would God, I could as feelingly infuse
A good effect of what this _Emblem_ shewes,
As I can tell in words, what _Moralls_ bee,
The life of that, which here you pictur’d see.
Most _Lovers_, minde their _Penny_, or their _Pleasure_;
Or, painted _Honors_; and, they all things measure,
Not as they are, but as they helpfull seeme,
In compassing those toyes, they most esteeme.
Though many wish to gaine a faithfull _Friend_,
They seldome seeke one, for the noblest end:
Nor know they (should they finde what they had sought)
How _Friendship_ should be manag’d, as it ought.
Such, as good _Husbands_ covet, or good _Wives_
(The deare companions of most happy lives)
Wrong Courses take to gaine them; yet, contemne
Their honest love, who rightly counsell them:
And, lest, they unawares the Marke may hit,
They blinde their _judgements_, and befoole their _wit_.
He, that will finde a _Friend_, must seeke out one
To exercise unfeigned _love_ upon;
And, _mutuall-duties_, must both yield, and take,
Not for himselfe; but, for his _Friendship_ sake.
Such, as doe rightly _marry_, neither be
With _Dowries_ caught, nor wooe a _Pedigree_;
Nor, meerely come together, when they wed,
To reape the youthfull pleasures of the Bed:
But, seeke that fitnesse, and, that _Sympathy_,
Which maketh up the perfect’st _Amity_.
A _paire_, so match’d; _like Hands that wash each other_,
As _mutuall-helpes_, will sweetly live together.

_When =Law=, and =Armes=, together meet,
The =World= descends, to kisse their feet._

ILLVSTR. XXIX. _Book. 3_]