Emblems Ancient and Modern, Lottery 1 – Emblem 3

Emblems Ancient and Modern · Lottery 1 – Emblem 3

p. 51THE FIRST LOTTERIE.

1

THou, doſt overmuch reſpect

That, which will thy harme effect;

But, ſome other things there bee,

Which will more advantage thee:

Search thy heart; and, thou ſhalt, there,

Soone diſcover, what they are:

Yea, thine Emblem ſhowes thee, too,

What to ſhunne; and, what to doe.See, Emblem I.

2

It is a little fear'd, that you

Are to your owne Deſignes, untrue;

And, that, if you more conſtant were,

You would be richer, then you are,

(It may be, alſo, wiſer, too)

Looke, therefore, what you are to doe:

Then, follow it, and, you will ſay,

That, well advis'd, you were, to day.See, Emb. II.

3

How rich or poore ſoe're thou be,

Thou, art a Prince, in ſome degree;

And, o're thy ſelfe, thou ſhouldſt command,

As doth a Monarch, in his Land.

Within thy Heart, therefore, ingrave

The Lawes, that Grace and Nature gave:

For, thus (to counſell thee) inclines

That Emblem, which, thy Lot aſſignes.See, Emb. III.

4

Much Liberty, thou haſt aſſum'd;

And, heretofore, ſo much preſum'd

On Time, which, alway rideth poaſt,

That, for awhile, ſome Hopes are croſt.

But, loe, to keepe thee from Deſpaire,

And, thy Misfortune, to repaire,

Marke, what to thee, by Lot, befell,

And, practiſe, what is counſell'd, well.See, Emb. IV.

p. 525

Thou ſeekeſt Honour, to obtaine,

By meanes, which fruſtrate all thy paine.

Thy Predeceſſors rich were made,

By uſing of the Plough and Spade:

Thou, honourable wouldſt be thought,

By taking Courſes, that are naught;

But, if, right noble, thou wilt be,

Looke, what thine Emblem counſells thee.See, Emb. V.

M 6

This Man, what ever he may ſeeme,

Is worthy of a high eſteeme:

Though Fortune may, his perſon, grinde;

She, cannot harme him, in his Minde.

Right bleſt, this Company would be,

If all of them, were ſuch, as He.

Reade that Impreſa, which he drew;

For, that, in part, the ſame will ſhew.See, Emb. VI.

M 7

If ſome, now preſent, this had got,

They, would have bluſhed, at their Lot;

Since, very fit, the ſame doth prove

For one, that's either light of Love,

Or, troubled with a fickle Mate:

If you enjoy a better Fate,

Yet, hearken, what your Lot doth ſay;

Leſt, you, hereafter, need it may,See, Emb. VII.

8

For ought, that, plainely, doth appeare,

You may out-live the longeſt, here;

Yet, ſeeing, now, of all this crew,

The Lot of Death, you, onelyonly, drew,

See what, your Emblem hath injoyn'd;

And, ſtill, that Morall, beare in minde:

So, Deaths deform'd and ghaſtly Shade

Shall, Meanes of Life, to thee, be made.See, Emb. VIII.

9

Though you have Wit, and, know it well;

That, raſh you are, your Friends can tell;

Yea, Sleepe, and Eaſe, poſſeſſe you ſo,

That, ſome doe feare, you'l ſottiſh grow:

But, lo, your hind'rance, to prevent,

This Lot, was, peradventure, ſent;

For, in the Moralls, that, inſue,

Are Counſells, fit, for ſuch as you.See, Emb. IX.

p. 5310

You, have beene wronged, many wayes,

Yet, patient are; and, that's your praiſe:

Your Actions, alſo, ſeem'd upright;

Yet, ſome there are, that, beare you ſpite:

Leſt, therefore, you diſcourag'd grow,

An Emblem, you have drawne, to ſhow

What other Innocents have borne,

And, how, the worlds deſpites, to ſcorne.See, Emb. X.

M 11

Doubtleſſe, you are either wooing,

Or, ſome other Bus'neſſe, doing;

Which, you ſhall attempt, in vaine,

Or, much hazzard all your paine:

Yet, if good, your meanings are,

Doe not honeſt meanes forbeare;

For, where things are, well, begunne,

God, oft, workes, when Man hath done.See, Emb. XI.

12

Be not angry, if I tell

That, you love the World, too well;

For, this Lot, perhaps, you drew,

That, ſuch Faults, you might eſchew.

Marke, to what their Soules aſpire,

Who, true Bleſſedneſſe, deſire:

For, if you can doe, like thoſe,

Heav'n you gaine, when Earth you loſe.See, Emb. XII.

13

You love the Rich; and, honour them;

The needy perſon, you contemne:

Yet, Wealth, nor want of Wealth, is that,

Which, wretched makes, or fortunate:

From other Cauſes, thoſe things flow;

Which, ſince, you either doe not know,

Or, heede not much, this Emblem came,

That, you might learne to minde the ſame.See, Emb. XIII.

M 14

Thy Chance is doubtfull; and, as yet,

I know not, what to ſay of it;

But, this I know, a foe thou art

To what thine Emblem hath, in part,

Expreſſed by a Mimicke Shape;

Or, thou, thy ſelfe, art ſuch an Ape.

Now, which of theſe, pertaines to thee,

Let them, that know thee, Iudges bee.See, Emb. XIV.

p. 5415

Thy Vertues he may wrong, that ſayes

Thou ſpend'ſt thy ſelfe, in wanton wayes;

But, ſome have thought, and ſayd of late,

That, thoſe thou lov'ſt, conſume thy ſtate:

Yet, ſpare nor Time, nor Subſtance, tho,

Where, them, thou oughteſt to beſtow;

But, to thine Emblem turne, and, ſee

When Life, and Wealth, well ventur'd bee.See, Emb. XV.

16

Though Troubles, you may have (or had)

Enough, to make ſome others mad;

Yet, be content: for, they, that are

As weake, have had as much to beare;

And, that, which Malice did contrive,

To make them poore, hath made them thrive.

That Emblem, which, by Lot, you drew,

Prognoſticates, as much, for you.See, Emb. XVI.

17

Though, you ſuffer blame and paine,

You, at laſt, may Comfort gaine,

(Sharing Honours, truely gotten,

When, your Foes are dead, and rotten)

For, of this, you have a pawne,

In the Lot, that you have drawne;

And, by that, it may appeare,

What your paines, and wages, are.See, Emb. XVII.

18

Take you ſerious heed, I pray,

Whither, you doe goe to day;

Whom you credite; and, for whom

You, ingaged, ſhall become;

And, unleſſe you wiſh for Sorrow,

Be as provident, to morrow:

For, there are ſome traps and Snares,

Which, may take you unawares.See Emb. XVIII.

19

Your Wit, ſo much, you truſt upon,

That, weaker Meanes, hath yours out-gone;

Sometime, you runne, when there is need

Of much more Warineſſe, then Speed.

But, you, to God ward, worſe have err'd;

And, yet, Amendment is deferr'd.

See, therefore, what your Chance doth ſay,

And, take good Counſell, while you may.See, Emb. XIX.

p. 5520

Take heed, you doe not quite forget,

That you are dauncing in a Net:

More, then a few, your Courſe doe ſee,

Though, you, ſuppoſe, unſeene to be.

Your Fault, we will no nearer touch;

Me-thinkes your Emblem blabs too much:

But, if, you minde, what is amiſſe,

You, ſhall be nere the worſe, for this.See, Emb. XX.

21

Let ſuch, as draw this Lot, have care,

For Death, and Sorrow, to prepare

All times, to come, leſt one of theſe,

Their perſons, unexpected, ſeize:

For, them, or ſome of theirs, to ſlay,

Pale Death, drawes neerer, ev'ry day.

Yet, let them not, diſheartned, bee:

For, in their Emblem, they ſhall ſee,

Death, may (though, in appearance, grim)

Become, a bleſsing, unto them.See, Emb. XXI.

22

With Mary, thou art one of thoſe,

By whom, the better part, is choſe;

And, though, thou tempted art, aſtray,

Continu'ſt in a lawfull way.

Give God the praiſe, with heart unfaign'd,

That, he, ſuch Grace to thee, hath dain'd;

And, view thy Lot, where thou ſhalt ſee,

What Hag, hath layd a Trap, for thee.See, Emb. XXII.

23

Although, that, thou demure appeare,

For Pleaſure, there is no man here

Will venture more: And, ſome there are,

Who thinke you venture over farre:

Hereof, conſider well, therefore,

E're, ſo, you venture, any more;

And, in your Lotted Emblem, ſee,

For what, your Suffrings ought to bee.See, Emb. XXIII.

24

If ought, thou purpoſe, to aſſay,

Purſue the ſame, without delay;

And, if thou meane to gather fruit,

Be conſtant in thy Hopes purſuit:

For, by thine Emblem, thou mayſt finde,

Thy Starres, to thee, are well-inclin'd;

Provided, thy Attempts be good:

For, that, is ever underſtood.See, Emb. XXIV.

p. 5625

Take heed, thou love not their deceip…,

Who Number give, in ſteed of Weight;

Nor, let their Fanſies, thee abuſe,

Who, ſuch-like fooliſh Cuſtomes, uſe.

Perhaps, it may concerne thee, much,

To know the Vanities of ſuch;

And, who they are: Marke, therfore, what

Thine Emblem, will, to thee relate.See, Emb. XXV.

26

Thou, to Impatience, art inclin'd;

And, haſt a diſcontented Minde;

That, therfore, thou mayſt Patience learne,

And, thine owne Over-ſights diſcerne,

Thy Lot (as to a Schoole to day)

Hath ſent thee to the Squirrells Dray;

For, ſhe inſtructs thee, to indure,

Till, thou, a better ſtate, procure.See, Emb. XXVI.

27

Your Lot, is very much to blame,

Or elſe, your perſon, or, your Name

Hath injur'd beene, or, may have wrong

By ſome looſe wanton, ere't be long:

Therfore, e're, hence, you paſſe away,

Marke, what your Emblem, now, doth ſay.

Perhaps, by drawing of this Lot,

Some Harmes prevention may be got.See, Emb. XXVII.

28

VponUpon your head, thoſe weights were laid,

Which, your Endeavours, downeward waigh'd;

For, thoſe, who doe your weale envie,

Much feare, your top will ſpring too high;

Nay, yet, ſome Burthen, you ſuſtaine:

But, what their Malice will obtaine,

Your Emblem propheſies; if you,

With Patience, Honeſt-wayes, purſue.See, Emb. XXVIII.

29

This Lot, befell thee, for the nonce;

For, if things come not, all at once,

Thou, to deſpairing, ſoone, doſt runne,

Or, leav'ſt the Worke, that's well begun:

Which, to prevent, regardfull be

Of what thine Emblem counſells thee.See, Emb. XXIX.

p. 5730

Afflictions, are thy chiefeſt Lot;

Yea, great ones, too: yet, murmure not.

For, all, muſt fiery tryalls bide,

And, from their Droſſe be purify'd.

Therefore, though this, in ſport, be done,

Thy Morall'd Emblem, looke upon;

And, learne, thoſe Vertues to acquire,

Which, will not periſh in the Fire.See, Emb. XXX.

31

You ſeeke a Lot, which, proving bad,

Would, peradventure, make you ſad;

But, this may pleaſe: for, you are taught

To mend a Fortune, that is naught;

And, armed, with ſuch Counſell, here,

That, you, no Deſtiny, need feare.

Now, if you come to Harme, or Shame,

VponUpon the Starres, lay not the blame.See, Emb. XXXI.

M 32

In Court, thou mayſt have hope, to clime,

This preſent, or ſome other time;

But, ſomething thou doſt want, as yet,

Which, for that place, muſt make thee fit.

Preſume not, therefore, on thy Lot,

Till, thoſe accompliſhments are got,

Which, in thine Emblem, are expreſt;

And, then, march on, among the beſt.See, Emb. XXXII.

33

Some thinke, you love; 'tis true, you doe;

And, are as well beloved too:

But, you (if we the truth ſhall ſay)

Love not ſo truely, as you may.

To make a perfect Love, there goes

Much more, then ev'ry Lover knowes.

Your Emblem, therefore heede; and, then,

Beginne, anew, to love agen.See, Emb. XXXIII.

34

Now, ſome good Counſell, thou doſt need;

Of what we ſay, take, therefore, heed.

Beware, left thou, too much, offend

A meeke, and, gentle-natur'd, Friend:

Though pow'r thou haſt, be carefull, too,

Thou vexe not, long, thine able Foe;

And, e're thou love, be ſure to finde

Thy Match, in Manners, and in Minde.

If thou demand a Reaſon, why,

To thee, thine Emblem will replie.See, Emb. XXXIV.

p. 5835

Beware, thou ſhare not in their crime,

Who care, but for the preſent time:

For, by thy Lot, wee may ſuſpect,

Or that, or things, to that effect.

If ſo it be, or if thy Minde,

To ſuch an Errour, be inclin'd,

Thy Chance unto an Emblem, brings,

Which, will adviſe to better things.See, Emb. XXXV.

36

You, love to ſeeme; this, all Men ſee:

But, would you lov'd, as well, to bee.

If, alſo, better uſe were made

Of thoſe good Bleſsings, you have had;

Your praiſe were more. Marke, therefore, well,

What Moralls, now, your Emblem, tell;

And, gather, from it, what you may,

To ſet you in a better way.See, Emb. XXXVI.

37

To ſcape a Storme, great thought you take;

But, little heed, what meanes you make.

You, love your eaſe, and, Troubles, feare;

But, careleſſe are, what Courſe you ſteere.

Which Indiſcretions, to prevent,

You, to an Emblem, now, are ſent:

Whereof, if you regardfull are,

You, leſſe will feare, and better fare.See, Emb. XXXVII.

38

What you have, done, conſider, now;

For, this your Chance, doth ſeeme to ſhow

That you have ſworne, or vow'd, of late,

Or promiſed (you beſt know what)

Which, you have, ſince, unwilling bin,

To keepe; or, elſe, did faile, therein.

If it be ſo; repent, or els,

What will befall, your Emblem tells.See, Emb. XXXVIII.

39

Thy Hopings, and thy Feares, are ſuch,

That, they afflict, and paine thee, much;

Becauſe, thou giv'ſt too great a ſcope

VntoUnto thy Feare, or to thy Hope:

For, they will paine, or pleaſure thee,

As they enlarg'd, or curbed be.

But, lo; thine Emblem, if thou pleaſe,

Inſtructs thee, how, to mannage theſe.See, Emb, XXXIX.

p. 5940

Let them, who get this Chance, beware,

Leſt Cupid ſnarle them in a Snare:

For, by their Lot, they ſhould be apt

To be, in ſuch-like Ginnes, intrapt.

Some helpe, is by their Emblem, got,

If they, too late, obſerve it not;

But, then, no profit will be done them:

For, Counſell will be loſt upon them.See, Emb. XL.

41

Whether, meerely, Chance, or no,

Brought this Lot, we doe not know:

But, received, let it be,

As, divinely, ſent to thee:

For, that, merits thy regard,

Which, thine Emblem hath declar'd;

And, the beſt, that are, have need,

Such Adviſements, well to heed.See, Emb. XLI.

42

Thou, haſt already, or, e're long,

Shalt have ſome dammage by the Tongue:

But, fully, yet, it is not knowne,

Whether the Tongue ſhall be thine owne,

Or elſe, anothers tongue, from whom

This Miſchiefe, unto thee, ſhall come:

But, much the better, thou ſhalt ſpeed,

If, now, thine Emblem, well thou heed.See, Emb. XLII.

43

Vnworthy things, thou doſt affect,

With ſomewhat overmuch reſpect;

VntoUnto the World, inclining ſo,

As if thy Hopes were all below:

But, now, to rowſe thee from this crime,

Good Counſell comes in happy time.

Make uſe thereof; and, thinke it not

Meere caſuall, or a needleſſe Lot.See, Emb. XLIII.

44

Thou, either, too much love, haſt plac't

On things, that will not alway laſt;

Or elſe, thou art a little ſcar'd.

Becauſe thy Hopes are long deferr'd:

Nay, thou art touch'd, in both of theſe.

Thy Profit, therefore, and thine eaſe,

It will effect, if well thou minde

What, in thine Emblem, thou ſhalt finde.See, Emb. XLV.

p. 6045

When thou haſt Changes, good, or bad,

Ore-joy'd, thou art, or over-ſad;

As if it ſeemed very ſtrange

To ſee the Winde or Weather, change:

Lo, therefore, to remember thee,

How changeable, things Mortall, bee,

Thou, art aſſiſted by this Lot;

Now, let it be, no more, forgot.See, Emb. XLV.

46

Of thy juſt Aymes, though meanes be ſlight,

Thou mayſt attaine their wiſhed height;

Vnleſſe, thy Folly ſhall deſtroy

The Weale, thou ſeekeſt to injoy,

By thy Deſpaire, or by neglect

Of that, which, may thy Hopes effect:

For, by thine Emblem, thou mayſt know,

Great things, from ſmall Beginnings, grow▪See, Emb. XLVI.

47

Thou muſt have Croſses; but they, ſhall,

To Bleſsings, be converted, all;

And, Suffrings, will become, thy Praiſe,

If, Wiſedome order, well thy wayes:

Yea, when thy Croſſes ended are,

A Crowne of Glory, thou ſhalt weare.

Yet, note, how this to paſſe is brought:

For, in thine Emblem, it is taught.See, Emb. XLVII.

48

If they, who drew this Lot, now be

Of great Eſtate, or high Degree,

They ſhall ere long, become as poore,

As thoſe, that beg from doore to doore.

If poore they be; it plaine appeares,

They ſhall become great Princes Peeres:

And, in their Emblem, they may know,

What very day, it will be, ſo.See, Emb. XLVIII.

49

You, have attempted many a thing,

Which, you, to paſſe, could never bring;

Not, that, your Worke was hard to doe,

But, 'cauſe, you us'd wrong Meanes, thereto.

Hereafter, therefore, learne, I pray,

The Times of Working, and, the Way;

And, of thine Emblem, take thou heed,

If, better, thou deſire to ſpeed.See, Emb. XLIX.

p. 6150

If you, to greater Wealth, will riſe,

You muſt not, ſlender Gaine, deſpiſe;

Nay, if, you minde not, to be poore,

You muſt regard ſlight Loſſes, more:

For, Wealth, and Poverty, doe come,

Not all at once, but, ſome and ſome.

If this, concerne you, any wayes,

See, what your Emblem, further, ſayes.See, Emb. L.

51

Your Fortune, hath deſerved thank,

That ſhe, on you, beſtowes a Blank:

For, as you, nothing good, have had;

So, you, have nothing, that is bad.

Yea, ſhe, in this, hath favour ſhowne,

(If, now, your Freedome well be knowne)

For, you, by Lot, theſe Emblems, miſt,

That you, may chuſe out, which you liſt.

52

You, by an Emblem, ſeeke to get

What Counſel your Affaires may fit;

But, in particular, there's none,

Which, you, by Lot, can light upon:

And, why? becauſe, no Morall, there,

Doth, worthy of your Heed, appeare?

No; but becauſe you rather, need,

Of ev'ry Emblem, to take heed.

53

The Starres, are, now, no friends of your,

Or this is not their lucky houre:

For, at this time, unto your Lot,

They, by an Emblem, anſwer not.

If, therefore, you deſire to know

What good advice they will allow,

Some further Meanes, you muſt aſſay,

Or, trye your Chance, another day,

54

You, in your ſecret thoughts, deſpiſe

To thinke an Emblem ſhould adviſe,

Or give you cauſe to minde or heed

Thoſe things, whereof you may have need▪

And, therefore, when, the Lot, you try'd,

An anſwer, juſtly, was deny'd.

Yet (by your leave) there are but few,

Who, need good Counſell, more then you.

p. 6255

In ſome extreame, you often are,

And, ſhoot too ſhort, or elſe too farre;

Yea, ſuch an errour, you were in,

When, for a Lot, you mov'd the Pin:

For, one touch more, or leſſe, had layd

Our Index, where it ſhould have ſtayd.

But, if you can be warn'd, by this,

To keepe the Meane, which oft you miſſe,

You have obtain'd as good a Lot,

As any one, this day, hath got.

56

Among theſe Emblems, none there be,

Which, now by Lot will fall to thee;

However, doe not thou repine:

For, this doth ſeeme to be a ſigne,

That, thou, thy Portion, ſhalt advance

By Vertue, not by fickle Chance.

Yet, neretheleſſe, deſpiſe thou not

What, by good Fortune, may be got.

FINIS.

A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened VVITH METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS; And, diſpoſed into LOTTERIES, both Morall and Divine.

That Jnſtruction, and Good Counſell, may bee furthered by an Honeſt and Pleaſant Recreation.

By GEORGE WITHER.

The Second Booke.

LONDON,

Printed by AVGVSTINE MATHEVVES. MDCXXXIV.

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY Prince, CHARLES, Prince of Wales, &c.

FAir'ſt Bloſſome of our hopes; and Morning-ſtarre

To all theſe Ilands, which incloſed are

By Neptunes armes, within our Northern cli…nes;

And who (wee truſt) ſhall riſe, in future times,

To be the brighteſt Light, that, then will ſhine,

Betwixt the Artick-Circle, and the LINE.

To Yov (as now you are) that I preſent

Theſe EMBLEMS, 'tis not ſo impertinent

As thoſe may thinke it, who have neither ſeene

What, of your Cradle-ſports, hath heeded beene;

Nor heard how many ſerious Queſtionings,

Your Child-hood frameth, out of trifling things:

And, if mine aime I have not much miſtooke,

I come not overſoone with ſuch a Booke.

So long as in this Infant-Age you are,

(Wherein, the ſpeechleſſe Portraitures appeare

A pleaſurefull delight) your HIGHNESSE may

Among our EMBLEMS, finde a Harmeleſſe-play:

And, thoſe mute Objects will from time to time,

Still Riper, ſeeme, till you to ripeneſſe clime.

When their dumb Figures, no more ſport can make,

Their Illuſtrations, will begin to ſpeake,

And, ev'ry day, new matter ſtill diſcloſe,

Vntill your Iudgement to perfection growes.

They likewiſe, who their Services, to do

Frequent your Preſence, may have pleaſure too,

From this your Play-game: yea, and ſome perchance,

May cure a Folly, or an Ignorance

By that, which they ſhall either heare or view

In theſe our Emblems, when they wait on You;

Or, ſhall be called, by your EXCELLENCE,

To try what LOT, they ſhall obtaine from thence.

It may, moreover, much increaſe the ſport,

Which is allowed in a vertuous COVRT;

When they whoſe faults have long ſuſpected bin,

Shall draw forth private Cenſures of their Sin,

And, heare their EMBLEMS, openly, diſplay,

What, others dare not, but in private, ſay:

Nor will, to Yov, the MORALS be in vaine,

Ev'n when to manly Knowledge you attaine;

For, though to Teach, it will not them become

To be Remembrancers, they may preſume:

And, that which in their (hild-hood, men ſhall heed,

Will ſooneſt come to minde, in time of need.

Incourag'd by theſe Hopes, I thought it meet

To lay this humble Preſent at your feet.

Accept it, now; and, pleaſe to favour me,

When I growe old, and, You a Man ſhall be.

To your Highneſſe moſt humbly devoted, GEO: WITHER.

TO THE MOST HIGH-BORNE and hopefull Prince JAMES, Duke of YORKE, &c.

Sweet PRINCE,

YOur hand I kiſſe; and, thus my Lines addreſſe

VntoUnto your wiſe, and vertuous **The Counteſſe of Dorſet.GOVERNESSE.

For, MADAME, (as his PROXY) it is fit,

That, YOv both Read, and anſwere for him, yet.

To YOv for HIM, I therefore tender, here,

To welcome-in the New-beginning Yeare,

This harmeleſſe PLAY-GAME; that, it may have place,

When ſomewhat riper Daies, ſhall Make his GRACE,

Affect ſuch Objects; which, to looke upon

May pleaſure yeeld him, e're this Yeare be gone.

'Tis not the leaſt Diſcretion, in great COVRTS,

To know what Recreations, and what Sports

Become young PRINCES; or, to find out thoſe,

Which may, with harmeleſſe pleaſantneſſe, diſpoſe

Their Mindes to VERTVE: neither in their Cradles,

Should this be heeded leſſe, than in their Sadles:

Becauſe, when firſt to know, we doe begin,

A ſmall Occaſion, lets much Evill in.

Among thoſe things, which both Inſtruct and pleaſe;

But few, (for Children) are ſurpaſsing theſe:

For, they, to looke on Pictures, much deſire:

And, not to Looke alone, but, to enquire

What things thoſe are, that repreſented be,

In ev'ry MAP, or EMBLEM, which they ſee.

And, that which they ſhall view, or ſhall be told,

(By meanes of any Figure they behold)

Experience breedes; aſsiſteth Memory:

Or, helps to forme a Witty Fantaſie:

And, if thoſe Formes to good Inſtruction tend,

Oft ſteads them, alſo, till their lives have end.

Then, ſince ev'n all of us, much Good receive

By Ʋertuous PRINCES; And ſhould, therefore, ſtrive

To adde ſome helpes, whereby they might acquire

That Excellence, which wee in them deſire.

I (being able, to preſent his GRACE,

With nothing but a Rattle, or a Glaſſe,

Or ſome ſuch Cradle-play-game) bring, to day,

This BOOKE, to be as uſefull as it may:

And, how, and when, it will moſt uſefull grow,

Without my Teaching, YOV can fully ſhow.

For, what is of your Ableneſſe believ'd,

Through all theſe famous Ilands, hath receiv'd,

A large applauſe; in that, from out of thoſe

Which ableſt were, both King and State have thoſe

Your Faith and Wiſedome, to be TREASVRESSE

Of their chiefe Iewels; and the GOVERNESSE

Of our prime Hopes. And, now Iibi have weigh'd,

Me thinks, there needs no more, by me, he ſaid,

But, (having pray'd your HONOV… to receive

This PRESENT for the DVKE) to take my leave;

And Verſifie to him, ſome other day,

When Hee can underſtand mee, what I ſay.

Till then, let it pleaſe your Honour ſometimes to remember Him, that

I am his Graces daily and humble Oratour, GEO: WITHER.

p. 63We beſt ſhall quiet clamorous Thronges,

When, we our ſelves, can rule our Tongues.

NEQVEO COMPES CERE MVLTOS

ILLVSTR. I. Book. 2

WHen I obſerve the Melanchollie Owles,

Conſidering with what patience, they ſuſtaine

The many clamours, of the greater Fowles;

And, how the little Chirpers, they diſdaine:

When I remember, how, their Injuries

They ſleight, (who, cauſeles give them an offence)

Vouchſafing, ſcarce to caſt aſide their eyes

To looke upon that fooliſh Inſolence.

Me thinkes, by their Example, I am taught

To ſleight the ſlaunders of Injurious Tongues;

To ſet the ſcoffes of Cenſurers, at naught,

And, with a brave neglect, to beare out Wrongs.

Hee, doubtles, whom the Pſalmiſt, long agoe,

VntoUnto a lonely Deſert-Owle compar'd,

Did practiſe thus; And, when I can doe ſo,

I, ſhall for all affronts, become prepar'd.

And, (though, this Doctrine, Fleſh and blood gaine-ſay)

Yet, ſure, to ſtopp the malice of Deſpight,

There is no better, (nay, no other) way:

Since, Rage by Oppoſition gathers Might.

Good God! vouchſafe, ſufficient grace and ſtrength,

That (though I have not yet, ſuch Patience gott)

I may attaine this happy gift, at length;

And, finde the cauſe, that, yet, I have it not.

Though me, my Neighbours, and my Foes revile;

Make me of all their words, a Patient-bearer:

When er'e I ſuffer, let me be, the while,

As is the ſilent Lambe before the Shearer.

So; though my ſpeakings, cannot quiet any,

My Patience may reſtraine the Tongues of many.

p. 64When wee by Hunger, VViſdome gaine,

Our Guts, are wiſer then our Braine.

INGENII LARGITOR VENTER.

ILLVSTR. II. Book. 2

THe Crowe, when deepe within a cloſe-mouth'd-Pot.

She water finds, her thirſtineſſe to ſlake;

(And, knoweth not where elſe it might be got)

Her Belly, teacheth her, this courſe to take:

She flies, and fetcheth many Pibbles thither,

Then, downe into the Veſſell, lets them drop;

Vntill, ſo many ſtones are brought together,

As may advance the water to the top.

From whence, we might this obſervation heed;

That, Hunger, Thirſt, and thoſe neceſsities,

(Which from the Bellies craving, doe proceed)

May make a Foole, grow provident and wiſe.

And, though (in ſport) we ſay, the braines of ſome,

Not in their Heads, but in their Gutts, doe lye;

Yet, that, by wants, Men wiſer ſhould become,

Diſſenteth not from true Philoſophy:

For, no man labours with much Willingneſſe,

To compaſſe, what he nought at all deſires;

Nor ſeeketh ſo, his longing to poſſeſſe,

As, when ſome urgent neede, the ſame requires.

Nay, though he might, a willingneſſe, retaine,

Yet, as the Belly, which is ever full,

Breeds fumes, that cauſe a ſottiſh-witles-braine;

So, plenteous Fortunes, make the Spirits dull.

All, borne to Riches, have not all-times, witt

To keepe, (much leſſe, to better) their degree:

But, men to nothing borne, oft, paſſage get,

(Through many wants) renown'd, and rich to bee:

Yea, Povertie and Hunger, did produce,

The beſt Inventions, and, of chiefeſt uſe.

p. 65Though Muſicke be of ſome abhor'd,

She, is the Handmaid of the Lord.

QVI ME ALIT ME EXTINGVIT.

ILLVSTR. III. Book. 2

TO Muſicke, and the Muſes, many beare

Much hatred; and, to whatſoever ends

Their Soule-delighting-Raptures tuned are,

Such peeviſh diſpoſitions, it offends.

Some others, in a Morall way, affect

Their pleaſing Straines (or, for a ſenſuall uſe)

But, in Gods Worſhip, they the ſame ſuſpect;

(Or, taxe it rather) as a great abuſe.

The Firſt of theſe, are full of Melancholy;

And, Pitty need, or Comfort, more then blame;

And, ſoone, may fall into ſome dangerous folly,

Vnleſſe they labour, to prevent the ſame.

The Laſt, are giddie-things, that have befool'd

Their Iudgements, with beguiling-Fantaſies,

Which (if they be not, by diſcretion, fchool'd)

Will plunge them into greater Vanities.

For, Muſicke, is the Handmaid of the LORD,

And, for his Worſhip, was at firſt ordayned:

Yea, therewithall ſhe fitly doth accord;

And, where Devotion thriveth, is reteyned.

Shee, by a nat'rall power, doth helpe to raiſe,

The mind to God, when joyfull Notes are founded:

And, Paſsions fierce Diſtemperatures, alaies;

When, by grave Tones, the Mellody is bounded.

It, alſo may in Myſticke-ſenſe, imply

What Muſicke, in our-ſelves, ought ſtill to be;

And, that our jarring-lives to certifie,

Wee ſhould in Voice, in Hand, and Heart, agree:

And, ſing out, Faiths new-ſongs, with full concent,

VntoUnto the Lawes, ten-ſtringed Inſtrument.