Читать книгу A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne - George Wither - Страница 6

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I Have not often us'd, with Epigrames,

Or, with Inscriptions unto many Names,

To charge my Bookes: Nor, had I done it, now,

If I, to pay the Duties which I owe,

Had other meanes; Or, any better Wayes

To honour them, whose Vertue merits praise.

In ARCHITECT, it giveth good content,

(And passeth for a praisefull Ornament)

If, to adorne the FORE-FRONTS, Builders reare

The Statues of their Soveraigne-Princes, there;

And, trimme the Outsides, of the other Sqvares

With Portraitures of some Heroicke PEERES.

If, therefore, I (the more to beautifie

This Portion of my Mvses Gallerie)

Doe, here, presume to place, the NAMES of those

To whose Deserts, my Love remembrance owes,

I hope 'twill none offend. For, most, who see

Their worthy mention, in this Booke, to bee,

Will thinke them honor'd: And, perhaps, it may

(To their high praise) be found, another day,

That, in these Leaves their Names wil stand unrac'd,

When many fairer STRVCTVRFS, are defac'd.

In this Hope, I have placed on the Fore-Front (or before the First Booke of these Emblems) a Ioint-Inscription to the King and Qveenes most excellent Maiestie.

Upon the Right-Side-Front of this Building (or before the Second Booke) One Inscription to the most hopefull Prince, Charles, Prince of Wales; And, another to his deere Brother, Iames, Duke of Yorke, &c.

On the other Side-Front, (or before the Third Booke) One Inscription to the gratious Princesse, Frances Dutchesse-Dowager of Richmond and Lenox; And, another to her most noble Nephew, Iames Duke of Lenox, &c.

On the Fourth Front of our Square, (Or before the Fourth Booke) One Inscription to the right Honourable Philip Earle of Pembrooke and Montgomery, &c. And another to the right Honourable, Henry Earle of Holland, &c.