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A Collection of Emblemes

by George Wither

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  1. 1Note
  2. 2A Preposition to This Frontispiece
  3. 3A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
  4. 4The First Booke
  5. 5To the Reader
  6. 6The Occasion, Intention, and Use of the Foure — Lotteries Adjoyned…
  7. 7The Avthors Meditation Upon Sight of His Pictvre
  8. 8By Knowledge Onely, Life Wee Gaine, All Other Things to Death Pertaine
  9. 9The Man That Hath True Wisdome Got, Continues Firme, and Wavers Not
  10. 10The Law Is Given to Direct; the Sword, to Punish and Protect
  11. 11Occasions-past Are Sought in Vaine; but, Oft, They Wheele-About Again
  12. 12By Labour, Vertue May Be Gain’d; by Vertue, Glorie Is Attain’d
  13. 13Though Fortune Prove True Vertues Foe, It Cannot Worke Her Overthrowe
  14. 14A Fickle Woman Wanton Growne, Preferres a Crowd, Before a Crowne
  15. 15This Ragge of Death, Which Thou Shalt See, Consider It; and Pious Bee
  16. 16Before Thou Bring Thy Workes to Light, Consider on Them, in the Night
  17. 17An Innocent No Danger Feares, How Great Soever It Appeares
  18. 18A Foole, in Folly Taketh Paine, Although He Labour Still in Vaine
  19. 19As, to the World I Naked Came, So, Naked-Stript I Leave the Same
  20. 20To Him a Happy Lot Befalls That Hath a Ship, and Prosp’rous Gales
  21. 21Though He Endeavour All He Can, an Ape, Will Never Be a Man
  22. 22I Pine, That Others May Not Perish, and Waste My Selfe, Their Life…
  23. 23When to Suppresse Us, Men Intend, They Make Us Higher to Ascend
  24. 24Till God Hath Wrought Us to His Will, the Hammer We Shall Suffer Still
  25. 25From Thence, Where Nets and Snares Are Layd, Make-hast; Lest Els Yo…
  26. 26When Thou a Dangerous-Way Dost Goe, Walke Surely, Though Thy Pace B…
  27. 27A Sive, of Shelter Maketh Show; but Ev’ry Storme Will Through It Goe
  28. 28Death No Losse, but Rather, Gaine; for Wee by Dying, Life Attaine
  29. 29When Vice and Vertue Youth Shall Wooe, Tis Hard to Say, Which Way ’…
  30. 30By Paine, on Pleasures We Doe Seize; and, We by Suff’rance, Purchas…
  31. 31Who by Good Meanes, Good Things Would Gaine, Shall Never Seeke, nor…
  32. 32Oft Shooting, Doth Not Archers Make; but, Hitting Right the Marke T…
  33. 33With Patience, I the Storme Sustaine; for, Sun-shine Still Doth Fol…
  34. 34Where Hellen Is, There, Will Be Warre; for, Death and Lust, Compani…
  35. 35No Inward Griefe, nor Outward Smart, Can Overcome a Patient-Heart
  36. 36By Many Strokes, That Worke Is Done, Which Cannot Be Perform’d at One
  37. 37Afflictions Fire Consumeth Sinne; but, Vertue Taketh Life Therein
  38. 38Hee, Over All the Starres Doth Raigne, That Unto Wisdome Can Attaine
  39. 39A Princes Most Ennobling Parts, Are Skill in Armes, and Love to Arts
  40. 40True-Lovers Lives, in One Heart Lye, Both Live, or Both Together Dye
  41. 41When Two Agree in Their Desire, One Sparke Will Set Them Both on Fire
  42. 42He That Delights to Plant and Set, Makes After-Ages in His Debt
  43. 43To Have, and Not to Vse the Same; Is Not Our Glory, but Our Shame
  44. 44He, That His Course Directly Steeres, nor Stormes, nor Windy-Censur…
  45. 45A Sudden Death, With Shame, Is Due to Him, That, Sweares What Is Un…
  46. 46Where Strong Desires Are Entertain’d, the Heart ’Twixt Hope, and Fe…
  47. 47Those Fooles Whom Beauties Flame Doth Blinde, Feele Death, Where Li…
  48. 48Let Him, That at Gods Altar Stands, in Innocencie, Wash His Hands
  49. 49No Heart Can Thinke, to What Strange Ends, the Tongues Unruely Moti…
  50. 50The Minde Should Have a Fixed Eye on Objects, That Are Plac’d on High
  51. 51Those Fields, Which Yet Appeare Not So, When Harvest Comes, Will Ye…
  52. 52As Soone, as Wee to Bee, Begunne; We Did Beginne, to Be Vndone
  53. 53Though Very Small, at First, It Be, A Sprout, at Length, Becomes a…
  54. 54When We Above the Crosse Can Rise, A Crowne, for Us, Prepared Lies
  55. 55In Death, No Difference Is Made, Betweene the Scepter, and the Spade
  56. 56What Cannot Be by Force Attain’d, by Leisure, and Degrees, Is Gain’d
  57. 57Of Little-Gaines, Let Care Be Had; for, of Small Eares, Great Mowes…
  58. 58The First — Lotterie
  59. 59A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
  60. 60The Second Booke
  61. 61To the Most High-Borne and Hopeful Prince James, Duke of Yorke, &c.
  62. 62We Best Shall Quiet Clamorous Thronges, When, We Our Selves, Can Ru…
  63. 63When Wee by Hunger, Wisdome Gaine, Our Guts, Are Wiser Then Our Braine
  64. 64Though Musicke Be of Some Abhor’d, She, Is the Handmaid of the Lord
  65. 65Marke, What Rewards, to Sinne, Are Due, and, Learne, Uprightnesse t…
  66. 66That Kingdome Will Establish’d Bee, Wherein the People Well Agree
  67. 67From That, by Which I Somewhat Am, the Cause of My Destruction Came
  68. 68By Guiltines, Death Entred in, and, Mischiefe Still Pursueth Sinne
  69. 69When Wee Have Greatest Griefes and Feares, Then, Consolation Sweet’…
  70. 70To Brawle for Gaine, the Cocke Doth Sleight; but, for His Females,…
  71. 71If Safely, Thou Desire to Goe, Bee nor Too Swift, nor Overflow
  72. 72They That in Hope, and Silence, Live, the Best Contentment, May Atc…
  73. 73Let None Despaire of Their Estate, for, Prudence, Greater Is, Than…
  74. 74Their Friendship Firme Will Ever Bide, Whose Hands Unto the Crosse…
  75. 75A Candle That Affords No Light, What Profits It, by Day, or Night?
  76. 76The Sacrifice, God Loveth Best, Are Broken-hearts, for Sin, Opprest
  77. 77A King, That Prudently Commands, Becomes the Glory of His Lands
  78. 78By Studie, and by Watchfulnesse, the Jemme of Knowledge, We Possesse
  79. 79When Mars, and Pallas, Doe Agree, Great Workes, by Them, Effected Bee
  80. 80They, After Suffring, Shall Be Crown’d, in Whom, a Constant-faith,…
  81. 81Love, a Musician Is Profest, and, of All Musicke, Is the Best
  82. 82Thy seeming-Lover, False Will Bee, and, Love Thy Money, More Than Thee
  83. 83Give Credit; but, First, Well Beware, Before Thou Trust Them, Who T…
  84. 84Hee, That on Earthly-things, Doth Trust, Dependeth, Upon Smoake, an…
  85. 85I Beare, About Mee, All My Store; and, Yet, a King Enjoyes Not More
  86. 86To Learning, J a Love Should Have, Although One Foot Were in the Grave
  87. 87Good-fortune, Will by Those Abide, in Whom, True-vertue Doth Reside
  88. 88The Gospel, Thankefully Imbrace; for, God, Vouchsafed Us, This Grace
  89. 89The Bees, Will in an Helmet Breed; and, Peace, Doth After Warre, Su…
  90. 90The Heart of Him, That Is Upright, in Heavenly-knowledge, Takes Del…
  91. 91Where, Labour, Wisely, Is Imploy’d, Deserved Glory, Is Injoy’d
  92. 92Behold, You May, the Picture, Here, of What, Keepes Man, and Childe…
  93. 93Death’s One long-Sleepe; and, Life’s No More, but One short-Watch,…
  94. 94What Ever God Did Fore-Decree, Shall, Without Faile, Fulfilled Be
  95. 95My Fortune, I Had Rather Beare; Then Come, Where Greater Perills Are
  96. 96The More Contrary Windes Doe Blow, the Greater Vertues Praise Will…
  97. 97Even as the Smoke Doth Passe Away; So, Shall All Worldly-pompe Decay
  98. 98Death, Is Unable to Divide — Their Hearts, Whose Hands True-love Ha…
  99. 99False Weights, With Measures False Eschew, and, Give to Ev’ry Man,…
  100. 100He Needs Not Feare, What Spight Can Doe, Whom Vertue Friends, and F…
  101. 101Time, Is a Fading-flowre, That’s Found Within Eternities Wide Round
  102. 102When Great Attempts Are Undergone, Ioyne Strength and Wisedome, Bot…
  103. 103The Ground Brings Forth All Needfull Things; but, From the Sunne, T…
  104. 104No Passage Can Divert the Course, of Pegasus, the Muses Horse
  105. 105The Husbandman, Doth Sow the Seeds; and, Then, on Hope, Till Harves…
  106. 106Things, to Their Best Perfection Come, Not All at Once; but, Some a…
  107. 107Affliction, Doth to Many Adde — More Value, Then, Before, They Had
  108. 108Though Fortune, Hath a Powerfull Name, Yet, Vertue Overcomes the Same
  109. 109A Life, With Good-Repute, Jle Have, or, Winne an Honourable Grave
  110. 110Shee Shall Increase in Glory, Still, Vntill Her Light, the World, D…
  111. 111True Vertue Is a Coat of Maile, ’Gainst Which, No Weapons Can Prevaile
  112. 112The Second — Lotterie
  113. 113A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
  114. 114The Third Booke
  115. 115To the High and Mighty — Prince, James, Duke of Lennox, &c.
  116. 116If Well Thou Dost, and Well Intend, Thou Shalt Be Crowned, in the End
  117. 117A Little Wit, May Stand in Stead, When Strength Doth Faile, in Time…
  118. 118To Kings, Both Sword and Mace Pertaine; and, These They Doe Not Bea…
  119. 119He, That Concealed Things Will Finde, Must Looke Before Him, and Be…
  120. 120Good Fortune Will With Him Abide, That Hath True Vertue, for His Guide
  121. 121When Prosperous Our Affaires Doe Growe; God’s Grace It Is, That Mak…
  122. 122If Thou Thy Duties Truely Doe, of Thy Reward, Be Hopefull Too
  123. 123By Wisedome, Things Which Passe Away, Are Best Preserved From Decay
  124. 124Good Hopes, We Best Accomplish May, by Lab’ring in a constant-Way
  125. 125Ere Thou a fruitfull-Cropp Shalt See, Thy Ground Must Plough’d and…
  126. 126True Knowledge Is a Constant Friend, Whose Friendship, Never Shall…
  127. 127By Studiousnesse, in Vertue’s Waies — Men Gaine an Universall-Praise
  128. 128Above Thy Knowledge, Doe Not Rise, but, With Sobrietie, Be Wise
  129. 129When Each Man Keepes Unto His Trade, Then, All Things Better Will B…
  130. 130A Shepherd Carefull of the Sheepe, at All Times, Faithfull Watch Do…
  131. 131Our Dayes, Untill Our Life Hath End, in Labours, and in Hopes, Wee…
  132. 132Man’s Life, No Temper, More Doth Blesse, Then Simple-prudent-harmel…
  133. 133Where Er’e We Dwell, the Heav’ns Are Neere; Let Us but Fly, and Wee…
  134. 134His Pace, Must Wary Be, and Slow, That Hath a Slippery-way to Goe
  135. 135Our Pelican, by Bleeding, Thus, Fulfill’d the Law, and Cured vs.
  136. 136Bee Iust; for, Neither Sea nor Land, Shall Hide Thee From the Royal…
  137. 137Take Wing, My Soule, and Mount Up Higher; for, Earth, Fulfills Not…
  138. 138Through Many Spaces, Time Doth Run, and, Endeth, Where It First Begun
  139. 139Each Day a Line, Small Tasks Appeares: Yet, Much It Makes in Threes…
  140. 140Our Outward Hopes Will Take Effect, According to the King’s Aspect
  141. 141The Right-hand Way, Is Vertues Path, Though Rugged Passages It Hath
  142. 142I Was Erected for a Bound, and I Resolve to Stand My Ground
  143. 143Where Lovers Fitly Matched Be, in Mutuall-Duties, They Agree
  144. 144When Law, and Armes, Together Meet, the World Descends, to Kisse Th…
  145. 145Faire-shewes, We Should Not So Much Heed, as the Vprightnesse of th…
  146. 146My Substance, and My Light, Are Spent, in Seeking Other Mens Content
  147. 147The Safest Riches, Hee Shall Gaine, Who Alwayes Faithfull Doth Remaine
  148. 148Poore-Theeves, in Halters We Behold, and, great-Theeves, in Their C…
  149. 149Whil’st Thou Dost, Here, Injoy Thy Breath, Continue Mindfull of Thy…
  150. 150Doe Not the Golden Meane, Exceed, in Word, in Passion, nor in Deed
  151. 151Wee Then Have Got the Surest Prop, When God, Alone, Becomes Our Hope
  152. 152True Vertue, Firme, Will Alwayes Bide, by Whatsoever Suffrings Tride
  153. 153Truth, Oft Oppressed, Wee May See, but, Quite Supprest It Cannot Bee
  154. 154They, Who but Slowly-Paced Are, by Plodding on, May Travaile Farre
  155. 155Vncertaine, Fortunes Favours, Bee, and, as the Moone, So Changeth Shee
  156. 156Vntill the Steele, the Flint Shall Smite, It Will Afford nor Heat,…
  157. 157My Wit Got Wings, and, High Had Flowne; but, Povertie Did Keepe Mee…
  158. 158A Mischiefe, Hardly Can Be Done, Where Many-Pow’rs Are Knit in One
  159. 159They, Best Injoy Their Hearts Desires, in Whom, Love, Kindles Mutua…
  160. 160Where many-Forces Joyned Are, Vnconquerable-pow’r, Is There
  161. 161The Hearts of Kings Are in God’s Hands; and, as He Lists, He Them C…
  162. 162A Vertue Hidden, or Not Us’d, Is Either Sloth, or Grace Abus’d
  163. 163The Moone, Which Is Decreasing Now, When Shee Returnes, Will Fuller…
  164. 164Bee Warie, Wheresoe’re, Thou Bee: For, From Deceit, No Place Is Free
  165. 165This Day, My Houre-glasse, Forth Is Runne; Thy Torch, to Morrow, Ma…
  166. 166The Third — Lotterie
  167. 167A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne — The Fourth Booke
  168. 168Whil’st I, the Sunne’s Bright Face May View, I Will No Meaner Light…
  169. 169The Earth Is God’s, and in His Hands — Are All the Corners of the L…
  170. 170By Seeming Other Than Thou Art, Thou Dost Performe a Foolish Part
  171. 171Pursue Thy Workes, Without Delay, for, Thy Short Houres Runne Fast…
  172. 172Repent, or God Will Breake the Thread, by Which, Thy Doome Hangs O’…
  173. 173When Woe Is in Our Selves Begun, Then, Whither From It, Can Wee Run?
  174. 174When Magistrates Confined Are, They Revell, Who Were Kept in Feare
  175. 175Loe, Heere Is All, That Bee Possest, Which Once Was Victor of the East
  176. 176When Hopes, Quite Frustrate Were Become, the Wither’d-branch Did Fr…
  177. 177True Vertue, Whatsoere Betides, in All Extreames, Unmoov’d Abides
  178. 178The Motion of the World, This Day, Is Mov’d the Quite Contrarie Way
  179. 179Invincibilitie Is There, Where Order, Strength, and Vnion Are
  180. 180When Thou Art Shipwrackt in Estate, Submit With Patience, Unto Fate
  181. 181The Best, and Fairest House, to Mee, Is That, Where Best I Love to Bee
  182. 182The King, His Pow’r From God Receives: For, Hee Alone the Scepter G…
  183. 183Her Favours, Fortune, Oft Imparts, to Those That Are of No Deserts
  184. 184The Best Good-Turnes That Fooles Can Doe Us, Proove Disadvantages U…
  185. 185Though Weaknesse Unto Me Belong, in My Supporter, I Am Strong
  186. 186Be Wary, Whosoe’re Thou Be, for, From Loves Arrowes, None Are Free
  187. 187On Whether Side Soe’re I Am, I, Still, Appeare to Bee the Same
  188. 188Deformitie, Within May Bee, Where Outward Beauties We Doe See
  189. 189My Hand and Heart, in One Agree, What Can You More Desire of Mee?
  190. 190No Emblem, Can at Full Declare, How Fickle, Minds-unconstant Are
  191. 191Hee That Enjoyes a Patient Minde, Can Pleasures in Afflictions Finde
  192. 192All Is Not Gold, Which Makes a Show; but, What the Touchstone Finde…
  193. 193Apollo Shoots Not Ev’ry Day, but, Sometime on His Harpe Doth Play
  194. 194Live, Ever Mindfull of Thy Dying; for, Time Is Alwayes From Thee Fl…
  195. 195In Ev’ry Storme, Hee Standeth Fast, Whose Dwelling, on the Rocke Is…
  196. 196That’s Friendship, and True-Love, Indeed, Which Firme Abides, in Ti…
  197. 197The Sword Hath Place, Till War Doth Cease; and, Usefull Is, in Time…
  198. 198A Fortune Is Ordain’d for Thee, According as Thy Labours Bee
  199. 199Let None in Troublous Times Repine; for, After Stormes, the Sun Wil…
  200. 200For Whatsoever, Man Doth Strive, the Conquest, God Alone, Doth Give
  201. 201Since Overmuch, Will Over-Fill, Powre Am Enough; but Doe Not Spill
  202. 202They Passe Through Many Stormes, and Streights, Who Rise to Any Glo…
  203. 203God, Ever Will Bee Present, There, Where, of One Faith, and Mind Th…
  204. 204Protect Mee, If I Worthy Bee; If I Demerit, Punish Mee
  205. 205The Tongue, Which Every Secret Speakes, Is Like a Barrell Full of L…
  206. 206How Ever Thou the Viper Take, A Dang’rous Hazzard Thou Dost Make
  207. 207The Gaining of a Rich Estate, Seemes, Many Times, Restrain’d by Fate
  208. 208In All Thine Actions, Have a Care, That No Unseemlinesse Appeare
  209. 209Wee, Bring the Hony to the Hive; but, Others, by Our Labours Thrive
  210. 210God, by Their Names, the Stars Doth Cal; and, Hee Is Ruler of Them All
  211. 211Who, Patience Tempts, Beyond Her Strength, Will Make It Fury, at th…
  212. 212Hee That Is Blind, Will Nothing See, What Light Soe’re About Him Bee
  213. 213None Knowes, Untill the Fight Be Past, Who Shall Bee Victor, at the…
  214. 214Why Should I Feare the Want of Bread? — If God So Please, I Shall B…
  215. 215All Flesh, Is Like the Wither’d Hay, and, So It Springs, and Fades…
  216. 216Make Use of Time, That’s Comming on; for, That Is Perish’d, Which I…
  217. 217The Garland, He Alone Shall Weare, Who, to the Goale, Doth Persevere
  218. 218The Fovrth — Lotterie
  219. 219A Table for the Better Finding Out of the Principall Things and Mat…
  220. 220A Direction, Shewing How They Who Are So Disposed, Shall Find Out T…
  221. 221Book I
  222. 222Book 2
  223. 223Book 3
  224. 224Book 4
  225. 225Transcriber’s Addendum

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