Оглавление
George Wither. A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
Table of Contents
A PREPOSITION. to this Frontispiece
The First Booke
A. WRIT OF PREVENTION. Concerning the Avthors Dedication of the foure following Bookes, to those Royall, Princely, and Illustrious Personages, whose Names are mentioned in this Leafe
To the Majestie of Great. Britaine, France, and Ireland, the Most Illustrious King, CHARLES; And his excellently beloved, the most gratious Queene MARY
TO THE READER
The Occasion, Intention, and use of the Foure Lotteries adjoyned to these foure Books of Emblems
The Avthors Meditation upon. sight of his Pictvre
By Knowledge onely, Life wee gaine, All other things to Death pertaine
The Man that hath true Wisdome got, Continues firme, and wavers not
The Law is given to direct; The Sword, to punish and protect
Occasions-past are sought in vaine; But, oft, they wheele-about again
By Labour, Vertue may be gain'd; By Vertue, Glorie is attain'd
Though Fortune prove true Vertues Foe, It cannot worke her Overthrowe
A fickle Woman wanton growne, Preferres a Crowd, before a Crowne
This Ragge of Death, which thou shalt see, Consider it; And Pious bee
Before thou bring thy Workes to Light, Consider on them, in the Night
An Innocent no Danger feares, How great soever it appeares
A Foole, in Folly taketh Paine, Although he labour still in vaine
As, to the World I naked came, So, naked-stript I leave the same
To him a happy Lot befalls That hath a Ship, and prosp'rous Gales
Though he endeavour all he can, An Ape, will never be a Man
I pine, that others may not perish, And waste my Selfe, their Life to cherish
When to suppresse us, Men intend, They make us higher to ascend
Till God hath wrought us to his Will, The Hammer we shall suffer still
From thence, where Nets and Snares are layd, Make-hast; lest els you be betray'd
When thou a Dangerous-Way dost goe, Walke surely, though thy pace be slowe
A Sive, of shelter maketh show; But ev'ry Storme will through it goe
Death no Losse, but rather, Gaine; For wee by Dying, Life attaine
When Vice and Vertue Youth shall wooe, Tis hard to say, which way 'twill goe
By Paine, on Pleasures we doe seize; And, we by Suff'rance, purchase Ease
Who by good Meanes, good things would gaine, Shall never seeke, nor aske in vaine
Oft Shooting, doth not Archers make; But, hitting right the Marke they take
With Patience, I the Storme sustaine; For, Sun-shine still doth follow Raine
Where Hellen is, there, will be Warre; For, Death and Lust, Companions are
No Inward Griefe, nor outward Smart, Can overcome a Patient-Heart
By many Strokes, that Worke is done, Which cannot be perform'd at One
Afflictions Fire consumeth Sinne; But, Vertue taketh Life therein
Hee, over all the Starres doth raigne, That unto Wisdome can attaine
A Princes most ennobling Parts, Are Skill in Armes, and Love to Arts
True-Lovers Lives, in one Heart lye, Both Live, or both together Dye
When Two agree in their Desire, One Sparke will set them both on Fire
He that delights to Plant and Set, Makes After-Ages in his Debt
To Have, and not to Vse the same; Is not our Glory, but our Shame
He, that his Course directly Steeres, Nor Stormes, nor Windy-Censures feares
A sudden Death, with Shame, is due To him, that, sweares What is untrue
Where strong Desires are entertain'd, The Heart 'twixt Hope, and Feare, is pain'd
Those Fooles whom Beauties Flame doth blinde, Feele Death, where Life they thought to finde
Let him, that at Gods Altar stands, In Innocencie, wash his Hands
No Heart can thinke, to what strange ends, The Tongues unruely Motion tends
The Minde should have a fixed Eye On Objects, that are plac'd on High
Those Fields, which yet appeare not so, When Harvest comes, will yellow grow
As soone, as wee to bee, begunne; We did beginne, to be Vndone
Though very small, at first, it be, A Sprout, at length, becomes a Tree
When we above the Crosse can rise, A Crowne, for us, prepared lies
In Death, no Difference is made, Betweene the Scepter, and the Spade
What cannot be by Force attain'd, By Leisure, and Degrees, is gain'd
Of Little-Gaines, let Care be had; For, of small Eares, great Mowes are made
THE FIRST. LOTTERIE
The Second Booke
TO. THE HIGH AND MIGHTY. Prince, CHARLES, Prince of Wales, &c
TO. THE MOST HIGH-BORNE. and hopeful Prince JAMES, Duke of Yorke, &c
We best shall quiet clamorous Thronges, When, we our selves, can rule our Tongues
When wee by Hunger, Wisdome gaine, Our Guts, are wiser then our Braine
Though Musicke be of some abhor'd, She, is the Handmaid of the Lord
Marke, what Rewards, to Sinne, are due, And, learne, uprightnesse to pursue
That Kingdome will establish'd bee, Wherein the People well agree
From that, by which I somewhat am, The Cause of my Destruction came
By Guiltines, Death entred in, And, Mischiefe still pursueth Sinne
When wee have greatest Griefes and Feares, Then, Consolation sweet'st appeares
To brawle for Gaine, the Cocke doth sleight; But, for his Females, he will fight
If Safely, thou desire to goe, Bee nor too swift, nor overflow
They that in Hope, and Silence, live, The best Contentment, may atchive
Let none despaire of their Estate, For, Prudence, greater is, than Fate
Their Friendship firme will ever bide, Whose hands unto the Crosse are tide
A Candle that affords no light, What profits it, by Day, or Night?
The Sacrifice, God loveth best, Are Broken-hearts, for Sin, opprest
A King, that prudently Commands, Becomes the glory of his Lands
By Studie, and by Watchfulnesse, The Jemme of Knowledge, we possesse
When Mars, and Pallas, doe agree, Great workes, by them, effected bee
They, after suffring, shall be crown'd, In whom, a Constant-faith, is found
Love, a Musician is profest, And, of all Musicke, is the best
Thy seeming-Lover, false will bee, And, love thy Money, more than Thee
Give Credit; but, first, well beware, Before thou trust them, who they are
Hee, that on Earthly-things, doth trust, Dependeth, upon Smoake, and Dust
I beare, about mee, all my store; And, yet, a King enjoyes not more
To Learning, J a love should have, Although one foot were in the Grave
Good-fortune, will by those abide, In whom, True-vertue doth reside
The Gospel, thankefully imbrace; For, God, vouchsafed us, this Grace
The Bees, will in an Helmet breed; And, Peace, doth after Warre, succeed
The Heart of him, that is upright, In Heavenly-knowledge, takes delight
Where, Labour, wisely, is imploy'd, Deserved Glory, is injoy'd
Behold, you may, the Picture, here, Of what, keepes Man, and Childe, in feare
Death's one long-Sleepe; and, Life's no more, But one short-Watch, an houre before
What ever God did fore-decree, Shall, without faile, fulfilled be
My Fortune, I had rather beare; Then come, where greater perills are
The more contrary Windes doe blow, The greater Vertues praise will grow
Even as the Smoke doth passe away; So, shall all Worldly-pompe decay
Death, is unable to divide Their Hearts, whose Hands True-love hath tyde
False Weights, with Measures false eschew, And, give to ev'ry man, their Due
He needs not feare, what spight can doe, Whom Vertue friends, and Fortune, too
Time, is a Fading-flowre, that's found Within Eternities wide round
When great Attempts are undergone, Ioyne Strength and Wisedome, both in one
The Ground brings forth all needfull things; But, from the Sunne, this vertue springs
No passage can divert the Course, Of Pegasus, the Muses Horse
The Husbandman, doth sow the Seeds; And, then, on Hope, till Harvest, feeds
Things, to their best perfection come, Not all at once; but, some and some
Affliction, doth to many adde More value, then, before, they had
Though Fortune, hath a powerfull Name, Yet, Vertue overcomes the same
A Life, with good-repute, Jle have, Or, winne an honourable Grave
Shee shall increase in glory, still, Vntill her light, the world, doth fill
True Vertue is a Coat of Maile, 'Gainst which, no Weapons can prevaile
THE SECOND. LOTTERIE
The third Booke
TO THE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS. Princesse, FRANCIS, Dutchesse Dowager of Richmond, and Lennox, &c
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY. Prince, JAMES, Duke of Lennox, &c
If well thou dost, and well intend, Thou shalt be crowned, in the end
A little Wit, may stand in stead, When Strength doth faile, in time of need
To Kings, both Sword and Mace pertaine; And, these they doe not beare in vaine
He, that concealed things will finde, Must looke before him, and behinde
Good Fortune will with him abide, That hath true Vertue, for his guide
When prosperous our Affaires doe growe; God's Grace it is, that makes them so
If thou thy Duties truely doe, Of thy Reward, be hopefull too
By Wisedome, things which passe away, Are best preserved from decay
Good Hopes, we best accomplish may, By lab'ring in a constant-Way
Ere thou a fruitfull-Cropp shalt see, Thy ground must plough'd and harro'wd be
True Knowledge is a constant Friend, Whose Friendship, never shall have end
By Studiousnesse, in Vertue's waies Men gaine an universall-praise
Above thy Knowledge, doe not rise, But, with Sobrietie, be wise,
When each man keepes unto his Trade, Then, all things better will be made
A Shepherd carefull of the Sheepe, At all times, faithfull Watch doth keepe
Our Dayes, untill our Life hath end, In Labours, and in Hopes, wee spend
Man's life, no Temper, more doth blesse, Then Simple-prudent-harmelessenesse
Where er'e we dwell, the Heav'ns are neere; Let us but fly, and wee are there
His Pace, must wary be, and slow, That hath a Slippery-way to goe
Our Pelican, by bleeding, thus, Fulfill'd the Law, and cured Vs
Bee Iust; for, neither Sea nor Land, Shall hide thee from the Royall-hand
Take wing, my Soule, and mount up higher; For, Earth, fulfills not my Desire
Through many spaces, Time doth run, And, endeth, where it first begun
Each Day a Line, small tasks appeares: Yet, much it makes in threescore Yeares
Our outward Hopes will take effect, According to the King's aspect
The Right-hand way, is Vertues Path, Though rugged Passages it hath
I was erected for a Bound, And I resolve to stand my ground
Where Lovers fitly matched be, In mutuall-duties, they agree
When Law, and Armes, together meet, The World descends, to kisse their feet
Faire-shewes, we should not so much heed, As the Vprightnesse of the Deed
My Substance, and my Light, are spent, In seeking other mens content
The safest Riches, hee shall gaine, Who alwayes Faithfull doth remaine
Poore-Theeves, in Halters we behold, And, great-Theeves, in their Chaines of gold
Whil'st thou dost, here, injoy thy breath, Continue mindfull of thy Death
Doe not the golden Meane, exceed, In Word, in Passion, nor in Deed
Wee then have got the surest prop, When God, alone, becomes our Hope
True Vertue, firme, will alwayes bide, By whatsoever suffrings tride
Truth, oft oppressed, wee may see, But, quite supprest it cannot bee
They, who but slowly-paced are, By plodding on, may travaile farre
Vncertaine, Fortunes Favours, bee, And, as the Moone, so changeth Shee
Vntill the Steele, the Flint shall smite, It will afford nor Heat, nor Light
My Wit got Wings, and, high had flowne; But, Povertie did keepe mee downe
A Mischiefe, hardly can be done, Where many-pow'rs are knit in one
They, best injoy their Hearts desires, In whom, Love, kindles mutuall-fires
Where many-Forces joyned are, Vnconquerable-pow'r, is there
The Hearts of Kings are in God's Hands; And, as He lists, He Them commands
A Vertue hidden, or not us'd, Is either Sloth, or Grace abus'd
The Moone, which is decreasing now, When shee returnes, will fuller, grow
Bee warie, wheresoe're, thou bee: For, from deceit, no place is free
This Day, my Houre-glasse, forth is runne; Thy Torch, to Morrow, may bee done
THE THIRD. LOTTERIE
The fourth Booke
TO. THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE. PHILLIP, Earle of Pembrooke, and Movntgomerie, &c. Lord Chamberlaine of the Houshould, Knight of the most honourable Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie-Councell
TO. THE RIGHT HONORABLE, HENRIE, Earle of Holland, &c. Captaine of the Guard; Lord-chiefe-Iustice in Eyre of all his Majesties Forrests, Parkes and Chases on this side Trent; Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Counsell
Whil'st I, the Sunne's bright Face may view, I will no meaner Light pursue
The Earth is God's, and in his Hands Are all the Corners of the Lands
By seeming other than thou art, Thou dost performe a foolish part
Pursue thy Workes, without delay, For, thy short houres runne fast away
Repent, or God will breake the thread, By which, thy doome hangs o're thy head
When woe is in our selves begun, Then, whither from it, can wee run?
When Magistrates confined are, They revell, who were kept in feare
Loe, heere is all, that bee possest, Which once was Victor of the East
When Hopes, quite frustrate were become, The Wither'd-branch did freshly bloome
True Vertue, whatsoere betides, In all extreames, unmoov'd abides
The motion of the World, this day, Is mov'd the quite contrarie way
Invincibilitie is there, Where Order, Strength, and Vnion are
When thou art shipwrackt in Estate, Submit with patience, unto Fate
The best, and fairest House, to mee, Is that, where best I love to bee
The King, his pow'r from God receives: For, hee alone the Scepter gives
Her favours, Fortune, oft imparts, To those that are of no deserts
The best good-turnes that Fooles can doe us, Proove disadvantages unto us
Though weaknesse unto me belong, In my Supporter, I am strong
Be wary, whosoe're thou be, For, from Loves arrowes, none are free
On whether side soe're I am, I, still, appeare to bee the same
Deformitie, within may bee, Where outward Beauties we doe see
My Hand and Heart, in one agree, What can you more desire of mee?
No Emblem, can at full declare, How fickle, Minds-unconstant are
Hee that enjoyes a patient Minde, Can Pleasures in Afflictions finde
All is not Gold, which makes a show; But, what the Touchstone findeth so
Apollo shoots not ev'ry day, But, sometime on his Harpe doth play
Live, ever mindfull of thy dying; For, Time is alwayes from thee flying
In ev'ry Storme, hee standeth fast, Whose dwelling, on the Rocke is plac'd
That's Friendship, and true-love, indeed, Which firme abides, in time of need
The Sword hath place, till War doth cease; And, usefull is, in time of Peace
A Fortune is ordain'd for thee, According as thy Labours bee
Let none in troublous times repine; For, after Stormes, the Sun will shine
For whatsoever, Man doth strive, The Conquest, God alone, doth give
Since overmuch, will over-fill, Powre am enough; but doe not spill
They passe through many stormes, and streights, Who rise to any glorious heights
God, ever will bee present, there, Where, of one Faith, and Mind they are
Protect mee, if I worthy bee; If I demerit, punish mee
The Tongue, which every secret speakes, Is like a Barrell full of leakes
How ever thou the Viper take, A dang'rous hazzard thou dost make
The gaining of a rich Estate, Seemes, many times, restrain'd by Fate
In all thine Actions, have a care, That no unseemlinesse appeare
Wee, bring the Hony to the Hive; But, others, by our labours thrive
God, by their Names, the Stars doth cal; And, hee is Ruler of them all
Who, Patience tempts, beyond her strength, Will make it Fury, at the length
Hee that is blind, will nothing see, What light soe're about him bee
None knowes, untill the Fight be past, Who shall bee Victor, at the last
Why should I feare the want of Bread? If God so please, I shall bee fed
All Flesh, is like the wither'd Hay, And, so it springs, and fades away
Make use of Time, that's comming on; For, that is perish'd, which is gone
The Garland, He alone shall weare, Who, to the Goale, doth persevere
THE FOVRTH. LOTTERIE
A Table for the better finding out of the principall things and matters, mentioned in these Foure Bookes
A Supersedeas to all them, whose custome it is, without any deserving, to importune Authors to give unto them their Bookes
A Direction, shewing how they who are so disposed, shall find out their Chance, in the Lotteries aforegoing
