Emblems Ancient and Modern, Emblem 50 – Title page 4
This Day, my Houre-glaſſe, forth is runne;
Thy Torch, to Morrow, may bee done.
HODIE MIHI CRAS TIBI.
ILLVSTR. L. Book 3
THere is no Day, nor minute of the Day,
In which, there are not ma…y ſent away
From Life to Death; or, many drawing on,
Which, muſt within a little while bee gone.
You, often, view the Grave; you, often, meet
The Buriers, and the Mourners, in the ſtreet,
Conveying of ſome Neighbour, …o that home,
Which muſt, e're long, your dwelling-place become.
You ſee the Race, of many a youthfull Sonne
Is finiſh'd, e're his Father's Courſe is done;
And, that the hand of Death, regardeth neither
Sexe, Youth, nor Age; but, mingleth all together.
You, many times, in your owne houſes, heare
The groa…es of Death, and view your Children, there,
Your lov…ng Parents, or, beloved Wives,
To gaſpe for breath, and, labour for their lives.
Nay, you your ſelves, do ſometime find the paines
Of Sickneſſe, in your Bowels, and your Vaines,
The Harbingers of Death, ſometime, begin
To take up your whole Bodie, for their Inne.
You beare their heavie Aches, on your back;
You feele their twinges, make your heart ſtrings crack;
And, ſometime, lye impriſon'd, and halfe dead,
With Age, or with Diſeaſes, on your bed:
Yet you deferre your ends; and, ſtill contrive,
For temp'rall things; as if you thought to live
Sixe Ages longer: or had quite forgot,
That, you, and others, draw one common-Lot.
But, that, you might not, ſtill, the ſame forget,
This Emblem, and this Motto, here were ſet.
Finis libri tertij.
THE THIRD LOTTERIE.
1
THe Wreathes of GLORY, you affect,
But, meanes to gaine them, you neglect;
And, (though in doing, you delight)
You doe not, alwayes, what is right:
Nor are you growne, as yet, ſo wiſe,
To know, to whom the richeſt Prize
Doth appertaine; nor what it is.
But, now, you are inform'd of This.See, Emblem I.
2
Though you are weake, you much may doe,
If you will ſet your Wits thereto.
For, meaner Powres, than you have had,
And, meaner Wits, good ſhift have made,
Both to contrive, and compaſſe that,
Which abler men have wondred at.
Your Strength, and Wit, unite, therefore,
And, both ſhall grow improov'd the more.See, Emb. II.
3
Perhaps, thou mayſt be one of them,
Who, Civill Magiſtrates contemne;
And ſleighteth, or elſe, flouteth at
The Ceremonies of E…ate.
That, …hou mai…, therefore, learne to get,
Both better Manners, and more Wit,
The Sword, and Mace, (by ſome deſpiz'd)
Is, for thy ſake, now moralliz'd.See, Emb. III.
4
By this thy Lot, wee may miſdoubt,
Thou look'ſt not warily about;
But, hudleſt onward, without heed,
What went before, or may ſucceed;
Procuring loſſe, or diſcontent,
Which, Circumſpection, might prevent.
Therefore, with gratefulneſſe, receive
Thoſe counſells, which our Moralls vive.See, Emb. IV.
5
Thou haſt, unworthily, repin'd,
Or, been diſpleaſed in thy mind,
Becauſe, thy Fortunes doe not ſeeme
To fit thy Worth (in thy eſteeme:)
And loe, to check thy diſcontent,
Thy Lot, a Morall, doth preſent;
And ſhewes, that, if thou vertuous bee,
Good-Fortune, will attend on thee.See, Emb. V.
6
When thy Deſires have good ſucceſſe,
Thine owne Endeavors, thou doſt bleſſe;
But, ſeldome unto God thou giv'ſt
Due thanks, for that, which thou receiv'ſt.
Thine Emblem, therefore, tells from whom
The fruits of good Endeavours, come:
And, ſhewes (if thou to thrive intend)
On whom, thou, alwayes, muſt depend.See, Emb. VI.
7
It may bee, thou art one of thoſe,
Whoſe Faith, more bold, than fruitfull growes;
And (building on ſome falſe Decree)
Diſheartneſt thoſe, that Workers be
To gaine (with awfull-joy) that Prize,
Which, unto no man, God denies,
That workes in Hope; and, lives by Faith.
Marke, therefore, what thine Emblem ſaith.See, Emb. VII.
8
Thou haſt been willing, that thy Name,
Should live the life of Honeſt-Fame;
And, that, thy labours (to thy praiſe)
Continue might, in future dayes.
Behold; the Lot, thou hapneſt on,
Hath ſhowne, how this may well bee done.
Purſue the Courſe, which there is taught,
And, thy deſires to paſſe are brought.See, Emb. VIII.
9
Thou, many things, haſt well begun;
But, little, to good purpoſe, done:
Becauſe, thou haſt a fickle braine,
And, hands that love to take no paine.
Therefore, it chanceth not amiſſe,
That, thou haſt ſuch a Chance, as this:
For, if thou want not Grace, or Wit,
Thou maiſt, in time, have good of it.See, Emb. IX.
10
Whatev'r you ſeeme to others, now,
It was the Harrow, and the Plough,
By which, your Predeceſſors got,
The faireſt portion of your Lot:
And, (that, it may encreaſe your Wit)
They haunt you, in an Emblem, yet.
Peruſe our Morall; and, perchance,
Your Profit, it will much advance.See, Emb. X.
11
Much labour, and much time you ſpend,
To get an able-conſtant Friend:
But, you have ever ſought him, there,
Where, no ſuch precious Iewells are:
For, you, without have ſearching bin,
To finde, what muſt be found within.
This Friend, is mention'd by this Lot,
But, God knowes where he may be got.See, Emb. XI.
12
Thou ſeek'ſt for Fame; and, now art ſhowne,
For what, her Trumpet ſhall be blowne.
Thine Emblem, alſo, doth declare,
What Fame they get, who vertuous are,
For Praiſe alone; and, what Reward,
For ſuch like Studies, is prepar'd.
Peruſe it; And, this Counſell take;
Bee vertuous, for meere Vertues ſake.See, Emb. XII
13
This Lot, thoſe perſons, alwayes finds,
That have high thoughts, and loftie minds;
Or, ſuch as have an itch to learne,
That, which doth nothing them concerne;
Or, love to peepe, with daring eyes,
Into forbidden Myſteries.
If any one of theſe thou bee,
Thine Emblem, leſſons hath for thee.See, Emb. XIII.
14
If all be true, theſe Lots doe tell us,
Thou ſhouldſt be of thoſe Fidling-fellowes,
Who, better practiſed are growne,
In others matters, that their owne:
Or, one, that covets to be thought,
A man, that's ignorant of nought.
If it be ſo, thy Morall ſhowes
Thy Folly, and what from it ſlowes.See, Emb. XIV.
15
Thou haſt ſome Charge, (who e're thou be)
Which, Tendance may expect from thee:
And, well, perhaps, it may be fear'd,
Tis often left, without regard:
Or, that, thou doſt ſecurely ſleep,
When, thou ſhould'ſt watch, more ſtrictly, keep.
Thou knoweſt beſt, if it be ſo:
Take therefore heed, what is to doe.See, Emb. XV.
16
In ſecret, thou doſt oft complaine,
That, thou haſt hop'd, and wrought in vaine;
And, think'ſt thy Lot, is farre more hard,
Than what for others is prepar'd.
An Emblem, therefore, thou haſt got,
To ſhew, it is our common-Lot,
To worke and hope; and, that, thou haſt
A Bleſsing by it, at the laſt.See, Emb. XVI.
17
That thou haſt Honeſtie, we grant;
But, Prudence, thou doſt often want:
And, therefore, ſome have injur'd thee,
Who farre more Wiſe, than honeſt bee.
That, now, Diſcretion thou mayſt add,
To thoſe good-meanings thou haſt had;
The Morall of thine Emblem, view;
And, what it counſels, that, purſue.See, Emb. XVII.
18
To your Long-home, you nearer are,
Than you (it may bee) are aware:
Yea, and more eaſie is the Way,
Than you, perchance, conceive it may.
Leſt, therefore, Death, ſhould grim appeare,
And, put you in a cauſeleſſe feare;
(Or out of minding wholly paſſe)
This Chance, to you allotted was.See, Emb. XVIII.
19
In ſlippery Paths, you are to goe;
Yea, they are full of danger too:
And, if you heedfull ſhould not grow,
They'l hazzard much, your overthrow.
But, you the miſchiefe may eſchew,
If wholſome Counſell, you purſue.
Looke, therefore, what you may be taught,
By that, which this your chance hath brought.See, Emb. XIX.
20
This preſent Lot, concernes full neere,
Not you alone, but all men here;
For, all of us, too little heed
His love, who for our ſakes, did bleed.
Tis true, that meanes, hee left behind him,
Which better teacheth how to minde him:
Yet, if wee both by that, and th…,
Remember him, 'tis not amiſſe.See, Emb. XX.
21
Tis hop'd, you juſt, and pious are,
More out of Conſcience, than for feare;
And, that you'l vertuous courſes take,
For Goodneſſe, and for Vertue-ſake.
Yet, ſince the beſt men, ſometimes may
Have need of helpes, in vertues way,
Thoſe uſefull Moralls, ſleight you not,
Which are preſented by this Lot.See, Emb. XXI.
22
This Lot pertaineth unto thoſe,
(And who they bee, God onelyonly knowes)
Who, to the world, have no deſire;
But, up to heav'nly things aſpire.
No doubt, but you, in ſome degree,
Indow'd with ſuch Affections bee;
And, had this Emblem, that you might
Encourag'd bee, in ſuch a Flight.See, Emb. XXII
23
The ſtate of Temp'rall things to ſhew,
Yee have them, ſtill, within your view;
For, ev'ry object that wee ſee,
An Emblem, of them, ſerves to bee,
But, wee from few things, helps doe finde,
To keepe Eternitie in minde.
This Lot, an Emblem brings, therefore,
To make you thinke upon it more.See, Emb. XXIII.
24
Vnleſſe you better looke thereto,
Diſ-uſe, and Sloth, will you undoe.
That, which of you deſpayred was.
With eaſe, might have bin brought to paſſe,
Had but ſo much bin done, as may
Bee equall'd with One Line a day.
Conſider this; and, to that end,
The Morall of your Lot attend.See, Emb. XXIV.
M 25
If wee miſtake not, thou art one,
Who loves to court the Riſing-Sunne;
And, if this Lot, thy nature finde,
Thou to Preferment haſt a minde:
If ſo, learne hence, by whoſe reſpect
(Next God) thou mayſt thy hopes effect:
Then, ſeeke to winn his grace to thee,
Of what eſtate ſoe're thou bee.See, Emb. XXV.
26
Thou to a double-path art come;
And, peradventure, troubleſome,
Thou findeſt it, for thee to know,
On whether hand thou oughtſt to goe.
To put thee out of all ſuſpect,
Of Courſes that are indirect;
Thy Morall points thee to a path,
Which hardſhip, but, no perill hath.See, Emb. XXVI.
27
You warned are of taking heede,
That, never, you your Bounds exceed;
And, alſo, that you be not found,
To come within your Neighbours Bound.
There may be ſome concealed Cauſe,
That, none but you, this Emblem drawes.
Examine it; And, If you ſee
A fault, let it amended be.See, Emb. XXVII.
28
Your Emblems morall doth declare,
When, Lovers fitly matched are;
And, what the chiefeſt cauſe may be,
Why, Friends and Lovers diſagree.
Perhaps, you ſomewhat thence, may learne,
Which your Affection doth concerne.
But, if it Counſell you too late,
Then, preach it at your Neighbours gate.See, Emb. XXVIII.
M 29
Some, vrge their Princes on to Warre,
And weary of ſweet Peace, they are.
Some, ſeeke to make them, dote on Peace.
(Till publike Danger more encreaſe)
As if the World were kept in awe,
By nothing elſe but preaching Law.
Thy Morall (if of thoſe thou art)
Doth act a Moderators part.See, Emb. XXIX.
30
Tis feared, thou doſt leſſe eſteeme,
Vpright to bee, than ſo to ſeeme;
And, if thine actions, faire appeare,
Thou careſt not how ſoule they are.
Though this bee not thy fault alone,
Yet have a care of mending One:
And, ſtudy thou, Vpright to grow,
As well in Eſſence, as in Show.See, Emb. XXX.
31
Some, all their time, and wealth have ſpent,
In giving other men content;
And, would not grudge to waſte their Blood,
To helpe advance the Common-good.
To ſuch as theſe, you have been thought,
Not halfe ſo friendly as you ought.
This Lot therefore befalls, to ſhew,
How great reſpects, to ſuch, are due.See, Emb. XXXI.
32
You have been tempted (by your leave)
In hope of Lucre, to deceive:
But, much, as yet, you have not ſwerv'd
From Faith, which ought to be obſerv'd.
If well, hereafter, you would ſpeed,
In dealing-honeſtly, proceed:
For, by your Emblem, you ſhall ſee,
That, Honeſt-men, the richeſt bee.See, Emb. XXXII.
33
We hope, no perſon, here, beleeves,
That, you are of thoſe wealthy Theeves,
Who, Chaines of gold, and pearle doe weare,
And, of thoſe Theeves, that, none you are,
Which weares a Rope, wee, plainly ſee;
For, you, as yet unchanged bee:
But, unto God, for MercieMercy crie,
Elſe, hang'd you may bee, e're you die.See, Emb. XXXIII.
34
You, willing are, to put away,
The thinking on your Latter-day:
You count the mention of it, Folly;
A meanes of breeding Melancholly;
And, newes unfit for men to heare,
Before they come to ſixtie-yeare.
But, minde what Counſels now are ſent,
And, mend, left you too late repent.See, Emb. XXXIV.
35
Your Wits, your Wiſhes, and your Tongue,
Have run the Wild groſe-chaſe, too long;
And (left all Reaſon, you exceed)
Of Rules, and Beines, you now have need.
A Bridle, therefore, and a Square,
Prime Figures, in your Emblem, are.
Obſerve their Morall, and I pray,
Be Wiſe, and Sober, if you may.See, Emb. XXXV.
36
Becauſe her Ayd makes goodly ſhowes,
You, on the World, your truſt repoſe;
And, his dependance, you deſpiſe,
Who, meerly, on God's helpe, relies.
That, therefore, you may come to ſee,
How pleas'd, and ſafe, thoſe men may bee,
Who have no ayd, but God, alone;
This Emblem, you have lighted on.See, Emb. XXXVI.
37
Some, thinke your Vertue very much;
And, there is cauſe to thinke it ſuch:
For, many wayes it hath been tride;
And, well the Triall doth abide,
Yet, think not, but ſome brants there are,
Which, your owne ſtrength ſhall never beare.
And, by the Morall of your Lot,
Learne, where, Aſsiſtance may bee got.See, Emb. XXXVII.
38
Thou haſt been grieved, and complain'd,
Becauſe, the Truth hath wrong ſuſtain'd.
But, that, diſmayd thou ſhouldſt not be,
Thine Emblem will declare to thee,
That, though the Truth may ſuffer ſpite,
It ſhall not bee depreſſed quite;
But, by oppoſing, ſpread the more,
And, grow more pow'rfull than before.See, Emb. XXXVIII.
39
By Raſhneſſe, thou haſt often err'd,
Or, elſe, thou hadſt been more preferr'd.
But, future errours, to prevent,
Thou to the ſlow pac'd Oxe art ſent,
To learne more Slaydneſſe; and, to doe
Thy Workes, with Perſeverance, too.
Hee that this creatures Vertue ſcornes,
May want it all, except his Flornes.See, Emb. XXXIX.
40
Dame Fortunes favour ſeemes to bee
Much lov'd, and longed for, of thee;
As if, in what, her hand beſtowes,
Thou mightſt thy confidence repoſe.
But, that, her manners may bee knowne,
This Chance, upon thee, was beſtowne.
Conſider well, what thou haſt got,
And, on her flattrings, dote thou not.See, Emb. XL.
41
The Steele and Flint, declare, in part,
The Temper of a Stony-heart;
And, ſhewe, that thence, no Vertue flowes,
Till it be forced out, with blowes.
Some other, Moralls thou maiſt learne,
Thereby, which will thy good, concerne:
Marke, therefore, what they doe declare,
And, minde it, as occaſions are.See, Emb. XLI.
42
Thou thinkſt thy Witt, had made thee great,
Had Povertie not beene ſome let:
But, had thy Wealth as ample beene,
As, thou thy Witt, didſt overweene;
Inſteed of thy deſired Height,
Perhaps, thou hadſt beene ruin'd quite.
Hereafter, therefore, be content,
With whatſoever God hath ſent.See, Emb. XLII.
43
To Diſcord, thou art ſomewhat prone,
And, thinkſt thou mayſt ſubſiſt alone;
Regarding not how ſafe they bide,
… laſt, in Concords bands, are tide.
… that thou mayſt the better heed,
What Good, from Vnion doth proceed,
An Emblem is become thy Lot,
From which, good Caveats may be got.See, Emb. XLIII.
44
Thou wouldſt be lov'd; and, to that end,
Thou doſt both Time, and Labour ſpend:
But, thou expect'ſt (as wee beleeve)
More Love, than thou doſt meane to give.
If ſo, thou, then, art much to blame:
For, Love affects a muturall-flame;
Which, if it faile on either ſide,
Will never, long time, true abide.See, Emb. XLIV.
45
If all your pow'rs, you ſhould unite,
Prevaile in your Deſires, you might:
And, ſooner ſhould effect your ends,
If you ſhould muſter up your Friends.
But, ſince your Genius doth ſuſpect,
That, you ſuch Policie neglect,
Your Lot preſenteth to your view
An Emblem, which inſtructeth you.See, Emb. XLV.
46
Becauſe, thou mayſt be one of them,
Who dare the deeds of Kings condemne;
(As if ſuch eyes as theirs and yours
Could view the depth of Sov'raigne pow'rs;
Or, ſee, how in each Time, and Place,
God rules their hearts, in ev'ry caſe.)
To check thy ſawcineſſe, in this,
An Emblem comes not much amiſſe.See, Emb. XLVI.
47
Of many goodly parts thou vauntſt;
And, much thou haſt, though much thou wantſt:
But, well it were, that, leſſe, thou hadſt,
Vnleſſe more uſe thereof thou mad'ſt.
That, therefore, thou mightſt come to ſee,
How vaine unpractiz'd vertues bee,
Peruſe thine Emblem, and, from thence,
Take uſefull heed of thy Offence.See, Emb. XLVII.
48
By this thy Lot, it may appeare,
Decayd thy Hopes, or Fortunes are.
But, that, thou mayſt no courage loſe,
Thine Emblem, by example, ſhowes,
That, as the Moone doth from the Waine
Returne, and fill her Orbe againe:
So, thou thy Fortunes mayſt renew,
If, honeſt Hopes, thou ſhalt purſue.See, Emb. XLVIII.
49
Some Foes, for thee, doe lie in wait,
Where thou ſuſpecteſt no Deceit;
Yea, many a one, thy harme intends,
Whom thou doſt hope will be thy Friends:
Be therefore, heedfull, whom to truſt;
What walke thou tak'ſt, and what thou doſt;
For, by thine Emblem, thou ſhalt ſee,
That, warineſſe, will needfull bee.See, Emb. XLIX.
50
It ſeemes, by drawing of this Lot,
The day of Death, is much forgot;
And, that, thou needſt a faithfull Friend,
To minde thee of thy latter-end.
Vnheeded, therefore, paſſe not by,
What now thine Emblem doth imply;
So, thou ſhalt heare (without affright)
Death's meſſage, though it were to night.See, Emb. L.
51
Thou ſeek'ſt by fickle Chance, to gaine,
What thou by Vertue might'ſt attaine.
Endeavour well, and, nothing ſhall
To thee, unfortunately fall:
For, ev'ry variable Chance,
Thy firme contentment, ſhall advance.
But, if thou, yet, remaine in doubt,
Turne Fortunes-wheele, once more, about.
52
Thy Lot, no Anſwere will beſtow,
To that, which thou deſir'ſt to know;
Nor canſt thou, here, an Emblem find,
Which to thy purpoſe is inclinde.
Perhaps, it is too late to crave,
What thou deſireſt, now to have:
Or, but in vaine, to mention that,
Which thy Ambition aymeth at.
Then, take it not in evill part,
That, with a Blanck, thou anſwer'd art.
53
Although you now refuſed not,
To trie the Fortune of your Lot;
Yet, you, perhaps, unwilling are,
This company the ſame ſhould heare,
Leſt, ſome ha…ſh Morall ſhould unfold
Such tricks, as you could wiſh untold.
But, loe, you need not ſtand in awe;
For, 'tis a Blanck, which now you draw.
54
It proves a Blanck; for, to what end,
Should wee a ſerious Morall ſpend,
Where, teachings, warnings, and adviſe,
Eſteemed are of little price?
Your onelyonly purpoſe, is to looke
Upon the Pictures of this Booke;
When, more diſcretion you have got,
An Emblem ſhall attend your Lot.
55
You might have drawne an Emblem, here,
In which your manners pictur'd were:
But, ſome will vexe, when they ſhall ſee
Themſelves, ſo painted out to bee,
And, blame this Booke as if it had
By ſome unlawfull Art been made:
(Or, was contriv'd, that, to their ſhame,
Men, on themſelves, might L…bels frame)
And, leſt you may bee ſo unwiſe,
Your Lot, an Emblem, now, denies.
56
Becauſe, Good Chances, others drew,
To trie theſe Lots, it pleaſed you.
But, had you ſuch an Emblem found,
As fits you rightly, you had froun'd;
Or, inwardly, you would have chaſe,
Although you outwardly had laugh'd.
You, therefore, very glad may bee,
This proves a Blanck; and, ſo may wee.
FINIS.
A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened VVith METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both Morall and …: And diſpoſed into LOTTERIES,
That Jnſtruction, and Good Counſell, may bee furthered by an Honeſt and Pleaſant Recreation.
By GEORGE WITHER.
The fourth Booke.
LONDON,
Printed by AVGVSTINE MATHEVVES. MDCXXXIV.