Emblems Ancient and Modern, Lottery 4
THE FOVRTH LOTTERIE.
1
THou, of a noble minde, art thought,
Which, heav'nly things, hath chiefly ſought.
And, ſcorn'ſt thy vertue to debaſe,
By loving thoſe of lower place.
If ſo, thine Emblem doth expreſſe
Thy Wiſdome, and thy worthyneſſe.
But, if to earthward thou incline;
Thence, learne Affections more Divine.See Emb. I.
2
Some words or thoughts, perhaps, of your
Have wrong'd Gods providence, or Pow're:
Els, you (it may be) to ſome place,
Confine his unconfined Grace;
Or, thinke, he never taketh care,
Of any Realme, but where you are.
Your Lot, now, therefore, doth provide,
To have your Iudgement rectifide.See, Emb. II.
3
Thou maiſt be wiſe, but, there is, yet,
Some crack, or failing in thy wit:
For, thou doſt perſonate a part,
That, ſhowes thee other, then thou art.
Thine Emblem, therefore, doth declare,
What Habit, ſuch deſerve to weare,
And, that, he merits Aſſes eares,
Who is not, that, which he appeares.See, Emb. III.
4
You have, as yet, much worke to doe,
But, yoo have little time thereto:
That, little, flyes away with ſpeed,
And, you the Loſſe, as little heed.
Leſt, therefore, all your time be gone,
Before you duely thinke thereon,
A memorandum you have got,
By drawing, of this luckie Lot.See, Emb. IV.
5
Though you, perhaps, no perill dread,
A miſchiefe hangs above your head;
By which, you (taking little care)
May periſh ere you be aware.
To minde you, therefore, to eſchew
Such Miſeries as may enſue;
Your Lot, this warning Emblem ſent;
Obſerve it, and your harmes prevent.See, Emb. V.
6
Thou fly'ſt, in hope, to ſhun thy griefe;
Thou changeſt place, to ſeeke releefe;
And, many blameleſſe things are ſhent
As, cauſers of thy diſcontent.
But trouble, now, no more thy minde,
The root of thy diſeaſe to finde;
For, by thine Emblem, thou ſhalt ſee,
The Fountaine, whence thy torments bee.See, Emb. VI.
M 7
Thou art, or els thou wert, of late,
Some great, or petty, Magiſtrate;
Or, Fortune thereunto, perchance,
In time to come, will thee advance.
But, by thine Emblem, thou ſhalt ſee,
That, when reſtrein'd, thy pow'r ſhall be,
Offenders, thereof will be glad,
And skoffe the pow're which thou haſt had;
Obſerve it; and be ſo upright,
That, thou maiſt laugh at their deſpight.See, Emb. VII.
8
Promotion thou doſt much deſire,
And, ſpacious Fortunes to acquire;
As, if thou thoughtſt, thou mightſt attaine,
True Bleſſedneſſe, by ſuch a gaine:
To ſhew thee, therefore, what event,
What happineſſe, and what content,
Such things, will bring vsus, at the laſt,
An uſefull Object, now, thou haſt.See, Emb. VIII.
9
Diſheartned be not, though thou ſee,
Thy Hopes, quite fruſtrate ſeeme to be;
For, many Hopes, appearing paſt,
Have, beene renew'd againe, at laſt;
And, grew far greater, then before,
When, they ſeem'd loſt, for evermore.
Examples, therefore, now are brought,
That, ſtill, to Hope, thou mayſt be taught.See Emb. IX.
M 10
Moſt men deſire to gaine the Fate,
Which keepes them ſafe, in ev'ry ſtate;
And, you, no doubt, would faine provide;
A Station, which might firme abide.
If ſo you meane; your L…t hath brought,
Some newes of that, which you have ſought:
For, by your Emblem, you may ſee,
What men ſhall moſt unmooved be.See, Emb. X.
11
You ſeeme, to wonder, much of late,
That, ſome goe backward in Eſtate,
Who ſeeme to thrive; and, why, we finde,
Thoſe Friends, who ſeemed very kinde,
(And, forward, good reſpects to ſhow)
Doe, now unkinde, and froward grow.
But, when your Emblem you ſhall ſee,
No wonder, then, ſuch things will be.See, Emb. XI.
12
Thou ſeekſt a Conqueſt; or, (at leaſt)
Of ſuch a Pow're to be poſſeſt,
As none can conquer; And, bohold,
Thou, in an Emblem, ſhalt be told
The meanes to get thy hearts deſire.
Yet, know, that if thou come no nigher,
Then but to know the meanes of bliſſe,
The farther off, the bleſsing is.See, Emb. XII.
13
Thou liv'ſt as one who thinks, that, Fate
All Actions did ne…eſsitate;
And, that to doe, or leave undone,
Thy Buſineſſes, came all to one.
If thus thou thinke, perhaps, this Chance;
May helpe to cure thine Ignorance;
And, ſhow, when 'twill be, wholly, fit
To Fate, our matters, to commit.See, Emb. XIII.
14
Thy Neighbors houſe when thou doſt view,
Welfurniſht, pleaſant, large, or new,
Thou thinkſt good LARES, alwaies dwell,
In Lodgings that are trimm'd ſo well.
But, by thine Emblem, thou art ſhowne,
That (if thou lov'dſt what is thine owne)
Thatcht Roofes, as true Contentments yeeld,
As thoſe, that are with Cedar ſeeld.
Vaine Fancies, therefore, from thee caſt;
And, be content with what thou haſt.See, Emb. XIV
15
Thou ſeek'ſt Preferment, as a thing,
Which Eaſt, or Weſterne-winds might bring;
And, thinkſt to gaine a temp'rall Crowne,
By Powres and Vertues of thine owne:
But, now thy Lot informes from whom,
The Scepter, and preferments come;
Seeke, thence, thy lawfull hopes fruition,
And, cheriſh not a vaine ambition.See, Emb. XV.
16
This Lot, though rich, or poore, thou bee,
Preſents an Emblem, fitt for thee.
If Rich, it warnes not to be proud;
Since, Fortunes favours are allow'd
To Swiniſh-men ▪ If thou be poore,
Deject thou not thy ſelfe, the more;
For, many worthymen, there are,
Who, doe not Fortunes Iewels weare.See, Emb. XVI.
17
Thou, doſt not greatly care, by whom
Thy wealth, or thy Preferments, come:
So, thou maiſt get them, Foole or Knave,
Thy prayers, and thy praiſe may have;
Becauſe thou doſt nor feare, nor dreame,
What diſadvantage comes by them:
But, by thine Emblem, thou ſhalt ſee,
That, Miſchieves, in their favours bee.See, Emb. XVII.
18
You boaſt, as if it were, unknowne
The power you have were not your owne:
But, had you not an able Prop,
You could not beare ſo high a Top;
And, if that Ayde forſake you ſhall,
Downe to the ground, you ſoone will fall.
Acknowledge this; and, humble grow,
You may be, ſtill, ſupported ſo.See Emb. XVIII,
19
This Lot of yours doth plainely ſhow,
That, in ſome danger now you go.
But, wounds by Steele, yet, feare you not;
Nor Piſtoling, nor Cannon-ſhot;
But, rather, dread the ſhafts that fly,
From ſome deepe-wounding wantons eye.
Your greateſt perills are from thence;
Get, therefore, Armour of defence.See Emb. XIX.
20
Thy Vertues, often, have beene tride,
To finde what proofes they will abide:
Yet, thinke not all thy Trialls paſt,
Till thou on ev'ry ſide art caſt;
Nor, feare thou, what may chance to thee,
If truely, ſquare, thy dealings be:
For, then, what ever doth befall,
Nor harme, nor ſhame, betide thee ſhall.See, Emb. XX.
21
Fine Clothes, faire Words, entiſing Face,
With Maskes of Pietie and Grace,
Oft, cheat you, with an outward ſhow,
Of that, which prooveth nothing ſo.
Therefore, your Emblems Morall read;
And, ere too farre you doe proceed,
Thinke, whom you deale withall to day,
Who, by faire ſhewes, deceive you may.See, Emb. XXI.
22
You, are accus'd of no man, here,
As, if to any, falſe, you were
In word, or Deed; and, wiſh, we doe,
Your Conſcience may acquit you too,
But, if your ſelfe you guilty finde,
(As, unto ſuch a fault inclin'd)
The crime, already paſt, repent;
And, what is yet undone, prevent.See, Emb. XXII.
M 23
You hauehave delighted much, of late,
Gainſt Womens fickleneſſe, to prate;
As if this frailety you did find,
Entail'd, alone, on Womankind:
But, in your ſelfe, ther's now and then,
Great proofes, of wav'ring minds, in men:
Then, jugde not faults which are unknown;
But, rather learne to mend your owne.See, Emb. XXIII.
24
At you Afflictions, you repine,
And, in all troubles, cry, and whine;
As if, to ſuffer, brought no Ioy;
But, quite, did all contents deſtroy.
That, you might, therefore, patient grow,
And, learne, that Vertues pow're, to know,
This Lot, unto your view, is brought:
Peruſe, and practiſe what is taught.See, Emb. XXIV.
25
On out ſide Friends, thou much reliſt,
And, truſteſt, oft, before thou try'ſt;
By which, if Couſnage thou eſcape,
Thy Wit wee praiſe not, but thy Hap:
But leſt by truſt, (e're triall due)
Thou, overlate, thy Truſting ſue;
Obſerve the Morall of thy Lot,
And, looke that thou forget it not.See, Emb. XXV.
26
By this your Lot, it ſhould appeare,
That, you your ſelfe are too ſevere;
Or, have, by ſome, perſwaded bin,
That, ev'ry Pleaſure is a ſinne.
That, wiſer therefore, you may grow,
You have an Emblem, now, to ſhow,
That, Hee, whoſe wiſdome all men praiſe,
Sometime, layes downe his Bow, and playes.See, Emb. XXVI.
27
Thou little heedſt how Time is loſt,
Or, how thine Howres away doe poſt;
Nor art thou mindfull of the day,
In which thy life, will breath away.
To thee this Lot, now therefore, came,
To make thee heedfull of the ſame.
So, of thy Dutie, let it mind thee,
That, thou maiſt live, when Death ſhall finde (thee.See, Emb. XXVII.
28
A ſafe-abiding, wouldſt thou know,
When Seas doe rage, and winds doe blow?
If ſo; thine Emblem ſhewes, thee, where
Such Priviledges gained are.
Obſerve it well; then, doe thy beſt,
To bee a Yongling, in that neſt
There Moraliz'd: and, mocke thou not
At what is taught thee, by this Lot.See, Emb. XXVIII.
29
Beleeve not, alwayes, as thy Creed,
That, Love-profeſt, is Love-indeed;
But, their Affections entertaine,
Who in thy need, firme Friends remaine.
Perhaps, it much may thee concerne,
This Leſſon, perfectly, to learne.
Thine Emblems morall, therefore view,
And, get true Ertends, by being true.See, Emb. XXIX.
30
The Conſciences, of ſome, afford
No Lawfull uſe unto the Sword:
Some dreame, that, in the time of peace,
The practice of all Armes may ceaſe;
And, you, perhaps, among the reſt,
With ſuch like fancies are poſſeſt.
However, what your Morall ſayes
Obſerve; and, walke in blameleſſe wayes.See, Emb. XXX.
31
A better Fortune you might gaine,
If you, could take a little paine:
If you have Wealth, you ſhould have more,
And, ſhould be Rich, (though you are poore)
If to the longings you have had,
A true endevour you would adde:
For, by your Emblem, you may ſee,
Such, as your Paines, your Gaines will be,See, Emb. XXXI.
32
When any troublous Time appeares,
Your Hope is ouercome, with feares,
As, if with every Floud of Raine.
The World would quite be drownd againe,
But, by your Emblem, you ſhall ſee,
That, Sunſhine, after Stormes may be:
And, you this Lot, (it may be) drew,
In times of neede, to comfort you.See, Emb. XXXII.
33
When, you to ought, pretend a right,
You thinke to winne it by your might.
Yea, by your ſtrength, your purſe or friends,
You boaſt to gaine your wiſhed Endes.
But, ſuch Preſumptions to prevent
You to an Emblem now are ſent
That, ſhowes, by whom he Victor growes,
That winnes, by giving overthrowes.See, Emb. XXXIII.
34
If, truely temperate, thou be,
Why ſhould this Lot, be drawne by thee?
Perhaps, thou either doſt exceed,
In coſtly Robes; or drinke, or feede,
Beyond the meane. If, this thou finde,
Or, know'ſt, in any other kinde,
How thou offendeſt by exceſſe,
Now, leave off, that intemp'ratneſſe.See Emb. XXXIV
35
Thou hop'ſt, to climbe, to honor'd heights,
Yet, wouldſt not paſſe through ſtormes or ſtreights;
But, ſhun'ſt them ſo, as if there were
No way to bliſſe, where troubles are.
Leſt, then, thou loſe thy hop'd-for praiſe,
By, ſeeking wide, and eaſie wayes;
See what thine Emblem doth diſcloſe.
And, feare not ev'ry winde that blowes.See, Emb. XXXV.
36
Sometimes, it may be, thou doſt finde,
That, God, thy p…ayers, doth not minde,
Nor, heede, of thoſe Petitions take,
Which, men and Congregations make.
Now, why they take ſo ill effect,
Thou, by our Morall, maiſt collect:
And, by the ſame, ſhalt alſo ſee,
When, all thy ſuits will granted be.See, Emb. XXXVI.
37
Thou, haſt been very forward, ſtill,
To puniſh thoſe, that merit ill;
But, thou didſt never, yet, regard
To give Deſert, her due Reward.
That, therefore, thou maiſt now have care,
Of ſuch Injuſtice, to beware,
Thine Emblem, doth to thee preſent,
As well Reward, as puniſhment.See, Emb. XXXVII.
38
Thou, either haſt a babling tongue,
Which, cannot keepe a ſecret, long;
Or, ſhalt, perhaps, indanger'd growe,
By ſuch, as utter all they know.
In one, or other, of the twaine,
Thou maiſt be harm'd; and, to thy gaine,
It may redound, when thou ſhalt ſee,
What, now, thine Emblem, counſels thee.See, Emb. XXXVIII.
39
By this, thy Lot, we underſtand,
That, ſomewhat, thou haſt tooke in hand,
Which, (whether, further, thou Proceed
Or quite deſiſt) will danger breed.
Conſider, then, what thou haſt done,
And, ſince the hazzard is begun,
Adviſed be to take the Courſe,
Which may not make the danger worſe.See, Emb. XXXIX
40
The Deſtinies, thou blameſt, much,
Becauſe, thou canſt not be ſo rich,
As others are: But blame no more
The Deſtinies, as heretofore;
For, if it pleaſe thee to behold,
What, by thine Embleme, ſhall be told,
Thou, there, ſhalt find, which be thoſe Fates,
That, keepe men low, in their eſtates.See, Emb. XL.
41
Thou thinkſt, that thou from faults art free;
And, here, unblamed thou ſhalt be.
But, if to all men, thou wilt ſeeme
As faire, as in thine owne eſteeme,
Preſume thou not abroad to paſſe,
Vntill, by ev'ry Looking-Glaſſe,
Which, in thy Morall, is expreſt,
Thou haſt, both Minde, and Body dreſt.See Emb. XLI.
42
Some, labour hardly, all their daies,
In painefull-profitable wayes;
And, others taſte the ſweeteſt gaine,
Of that, for which theſe tooke the paine:
Yet, theſe, they not alone undo,
But, having robd, they murther too.
The wrongs of ſuch, this Emblem ſhowes,
That, thou mayſt helpe, or pitty thoſe.See, Emb. XLII.
43
Thou, often haſt obſerv'd with feares,
Th' aſpects, and motions of the Starres,
As if, they threatned Fates to ſome,
Which, God could never ſave them from▪
If this, thy dreaming Error be,
Thine Emblems Morall ſhewes to thee,
That, God retraines the Starry-Fates,
And, no mans harme, neceſsitates.See, Emb. XLIII.
44
Thou, haſt provoked, over long,
Their patience, who neglect the wrong;
And, thou doſt little ſeeme to heede,
What harme it threats, if thou proceed.
To thee, an Emblem, therefore, ſhowes,
To what, abuſed-Patience growes.
Obſerve it well; and, make thy Peace,
Before to Fury, Wrath increaſe.See, Emb. XLIV.
45
Thou haſt the helps of Natures light;
Experience too, doth ayde thy ſight:
Nay more, the Sun of Grace-divine,
Doth round about thee daylie ſhine;
Yet, Reaſons eye is blind in thee,
And, cleareſt Objects cannot ſee.
Now, from what cauſe, this Blindneſſe growes
The Morall of the thine Emblem ſhowes.See, Emb. XLV.
46
Thy cauſe, thy Money, or thy Friend,
May make thee forward to contend;
And, give thee Hopes, that thy intents,
Shall bring thee proſperous events.
But view thy Lot; then, marke thou there.
That Victories uncertaine are;
And raſhly venture not on that
Whoſe End may be, thou knoweſt not what.See, Emb. XLVI.
47
To them who grudgingly repine,
Aſſoone as their eſtates decline,
This Lot pertaines; or, unto thoſe,
Who, when their neighbour needy growes,
Contemne him; as if he were left,
Of God; and, of all hopes bereſt.
If this, or that, be found in thee,
Thou, by thy Morall, taught ſhalt be,
That, there is none to ill b… ſped;
But may have, hope, he ſhall be fed.See, Emb. XLVII.
48
Thy Fleſh thou lov'ſt, as if it were,
The chiefeſt Object, of thy Care;
And of ſuch value, as may ſeeme,
Well meriting, thy beſt eſteeme.
But, now, to baniſh that conceit,
Thy Lot an Emblem brings to ſight,
Which, without flattery, ſhewes to thee
Of what regard it ought to be.See, Emb. XLVIII.
49
It may ſuſpected be thou haſt,
Miſpent the Time, that's gone and paſt;
For, to an Emblem thou art ſent,
That's made, ſuch folly to prevent:
The morall heed; Repent thy Crime;
And, Labour, to Redeeme the Time.See, Emb. XLIX.
50
With good applauſe thou, haſt begunne,
And, well, as yet, proceedeſt on:
But, e're the Lawrell, thou canſt weare,
Thou to the End muſt perſevere.
And, leſt this dutie, be forgot,
Thou haſt a Caveat, by this Lot.See, Emb. L.
51
Although, this time, you drew it not,
Good Fortune, for you, may be got.
Perhaps, the planets ruling now,
Have caſt no good Aſpects on you.
For, many ſay, that, now and then,
The Starres looke angerly on men:
Then, try your Chance againe, anon;
For, their diſpleaſure ſoone is gone.
52
If by your Lot you had beene prais'd
Your minde, perchance, it would have rais'd,
Above the meane. Should you receive
Some check, thereby, It would bereave
Your Patience: For, but few can beare,
Reproofes, which unexpected are.
But, now prepared you have beene,
To draw your Lot once more begin;
And, if another Blancke you get,
Attempt your chance, no more, as yet.
53
To croſſe your hopes, Miſfortune ſought;
And, by your Lot, a Blanck hath brought:
But, he who knew her ill intent,
Hath made this Blanke her ſpight prevent;
For, if that Number you ſhall take,
Which theſe two figures, backward, make,
And view the place to which they guide;
An Emblem, for you, they provide.
54
Theſe Lots are almoſt Ten to One
Above the Blankes; yer, thou haſt none.
If thus thy Fortune ſtill proceed,
Tis T… to One if well thou ſpeed.
Yet, i… thou doe not much neglect,
To doe, as Wiſdome ſhall direct,
It is a Thouſand unto ten
But all thy Hopes will proſper, then.
55
It ſeemes, Dame Fortune, doth not know,
What Lot, on thee, ſhe ſhould beſtow;
Nor, canſt thou tell, (if thou mightſt have
The choice) what Fortune, thou ſhouldſt crave.
For, one thing, now, thy minde requires;
Anon, another it deſires.
When Reſolution thou haſt got,
Then, come againe, and draw thy Lot.
56
The Chance, which thou obtained haſt,
Of all our Chances, is the laſt;
And, caſting up the totall ſummes,
We finde thy Game, to Nothing comes.
Yet if it well be underſtood,
This Chance may chance to doe thee good;
For, it inferres what Portion ſhall,
To ev'ry one, (at laſt) befall;
And warnes, while ſomething▪ is enjoyd,
That, well it (alwaies) be imployd.
FINIS.