Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 11

Table of Contents

Illvstratio I. Book. 1.

HOw Fond are they, who spend their pretious Time

In still pursuing their deceiving Pleasures?

And they, that unto ayery Titles clime

Or tyre themselves in hoording up of Treasures?

For, these are Death's, who, when with wearinesse

They have acquired most, sweepes all away;

And leaves them, for their Labors, to possesse

Nought but a raw-bon'd Carcasse lapt in clay.

Of twenty hundred thousands, who, this houre

Vaunt much, of those Possessions they have got;

Of their new purchac'd Honours, or, the Power,

By which, they seeme to have advanc't their Lott:

Of this great Multitude, there shall not Three

Remaine, for any Future-age to know;

But perish quite, and quite forgotten bee,

As Beasts, devoured twice ten yeares agoe.

Thou, therefore, who desir'st for aye to live,

And to possesse thy Labors maugre Death,

To needfull Arts and honest Actions, give

Thy Spanne of Time, and thy short blast of Breath.

In holy Studies, exercise thy Mind;

In workes of Charity, thy Hands imploy;

That Knowledge, and that Treasure, seeke to find,

Which may enrich thy Heart with perfect Ioy.

So, though obscured thou appeare, awhile,

Despised, poore, or borne to Fortunes low,

Thy Vertue shall acquire a nobler stile,

Then greatest Kings are able to bestow:

And, gaine thee those Possessions, which, nor They,

Nor Time, nor Death, have power to take away.