Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 35

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Illvstr. XXV. Book. 1.

WHen to the Fields we walke to looke upon

Some skilfull Mark-man; so much heede we not

How many Arrowes from his Bowe are gone,

As we observe how nigh the Marke he shot:

And, justly we deride that Man who spends

His Time and Shafts, but never ayme doth take

To hit the White; or foolishly pretends,

The number of the Shots, doth Archers make.

So, God, who marketh our Endeavours, here,

Doth not by tale, account of them receive;

But, heedeth rather how well meant they were,

And, at his Will how rightly aym'd we have.

It is not mumbling over thrice a day

A Set of Ave Maries, or of Creeds,

Or many houres formally to pray;

When from a dull Devotion it proceedes:

Nor is it, up and downe the Land to seeke

To finde those well breath'd Lecturers, that can

Preach thrice a Sabbath, and sixe times a weeke,

Yet be as fresh, as when they first beganne:

Nor, is it, such like things perform'd by Number

Which God respects: Nor doth his Wisdome crave

Those many Vanities, wherewith some cumber

Their Bodies, as if those their Soules could save.

For, not Much-doing, but Well-doing, that

Which God commands, the Doer, justifies.

To pray without Devotion, is to Prate;

And, Hearing is but halfe our Exercise.

We ought not, therefore, to regard, alone,

How often, but how Well, the Worke be done.