Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 15

Table of Contents

Illvstr. V. Book. 1.

SVppose you Sirs, those mimicke Apes you meet

In strange fantasticke habits? or the Rabble,

That in gay clothes embroyder out the street,

Are truely of Worshipfull or Honorable?

Or can you thinke, that, To be borne the Sonne

Of some rich Alderman, or ancient Peere,

Or that the Fame our Predecessors wonne

May claime those Wreathes which true Deserving weare?

Is Honour due to those, who spend their dayes

In courting one another? or consuming

Their Fortunes and themselves, on Drabbs and Playes?

In sleeping, drinking, and Tobacco-fuming?

Not so. For, (though such Fooles, like children, place

Gay Titles on each other) Wise-men know

What slaves they be; how miserably-base;

And, where such Attributes would better show.

An idle Body clothes a vitious Minde;

And, what (at best) is purchac'd by the same,

Is nothing else, but stinking Smoke and Winde;

Or frothie Bubbles of an empty Fame.

True Glory, none did ever purchase, yet,

Till, to be Vertuous they could first attaine;

Nor shall those men faire Vertues favour get,

Who labour not, such Dignities to gaine.

And, this Impresa doth inferre no lesse:

For, by the Spade, is Labour here implide;

The Snake, a vertuous Prudence, doth expresse;

And, Glorie, by the Wreath is Typifide.

For, where a vertuous Industry is found,

She, shall with Wreaths of Glory, thus be crown'd.