A Collection of Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne
Quickened
With Metricall Illvstrations, both
Morall and Divine: And disposed into
Lotteries,
That Jnstruction, and Good Counsell, may bee furthered
by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation.
The Fourth Booke
To the Right Honovrable — Phillip, Earle of Pembrooke, and Movntgomerie, &c. Lord Chamberlaine of the Houshould, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Garter, and One of His Majesties Most Honourable Privie-Councell
My Honourable Lord,
THough, Worthlesse in my owne repute I am;
And, (though my Fortune, so obscures my Name
Beneath my Hopes; that, now, it makes me seeme
As little worth, in other mens esteeme,
As in mine owne;) yet, when my Merits were
No better, than, to most, they now appeare,
It pleased some, ev’n some of those that had
The Noblest Names, (and, those of whom was made
The best Account) so lowly to descend,
As, my well-meaning Studies, to befriend.
Among those Worthies, I may both bemone
(My selfe in Him) and memorize, for One,
Your much renowned Brother, as a Chiefe
In bringing to my waned Hopes, reliefe;
And, in my Faculties, were I as able
To honour Him, as he was honourable,
I would have showne, how, all this Emperie
Hath lost a Friend, in Him, as much as I.
To Mee, so freely, of his owne accord
It pleased Him, his Favours, to afford;
That, when our learned, and late Sov’raigne-Prince,
(By others mis-informed) tooke offence
At my Free Lines; Hee, foun’d such Meanes and Place
To bring, and reconcile mee to his Grace;
That, therewithall, his Majestie bestow’d
A Gift upon mee, which his Bountie show’d:
And, had inrich’d mee; if, what was intended,
Had not, by othersome, beene ill befriended.
But, as I long time, suffred have by those
Who labour’d much, my thrivings, to oppose:
So, I my selfe, (although not out of pride,
As many thinke it) have so much relide
Vpon the Royall-Gift, neglecting so
To fortifie the same, as others do
By making Friends; that my estate grew lesse
(By more than twice five hundred Marks decrease)
Through that, which for, my profit was bestowne.
And, I, ere this, had wholly been undone;
But, that the Wealth, which I relie on, most,
Consists in things, which never can be lost.
Yet, by his Losse, I have Occasions had
To feele, why other men are often sad.
And, I, (who blushed, to be troublesome
To any Friend) therby, almost am come
To such a passe; that, what I wish to have,
I should grow impudent enough to Crave,
Had not impartiall Death, and wasting Time,
Of all my Friends quite worne away the Prime;
And, left mee none, to whom I dare present
The meanest suite without encouragement:
Although, the greatest Boone, I would implore,
Should cost them, but a Word, or little more.
Yet, some there are, no doubt, for whose respect
I might endeavour, with no vaine effect;
Had I but cause, to have as high esteeme,
Of mine owne Merits, as I have of them.
And, if your Honour should be so inclin’d,
As I desire; I, now am sure to finde
Another Pembrooke, by whose ayde sustain’d,
I may preserve, what by the Last I gain’d.
To make adventure, how it will succeed,
I now am come. And lo, my Lord, insteed
Of better Advocates, I first begin,
Mine Emblems, by these Lines, to Vsher in;
That, they, by these admittance may effect
For Mee, and for themselves, your kinde respect.
That, which in them, best Worthy you shall find,
Is this; that, they are Symptomes of a Minde,
Affecting honestie: and of a Heart,
So truly honouring a true desert,
That, I am hopefull made, they will acquire
As much respect as I can well desire:
And, Sir, your Candor, your knowne Courtesies,
With other praisefull Vertues, make mee rise
To this Beliefe; that, Yov by fav’ring mee
Hereafter, may as highly honour’d be,
As by some former Bounties; and encrease
My Future Merit, by your Worthinesse.
However, what I am or shall be knowne
To Bee, by Your Deservings, or mine owne,
You may command it; and, be sure to finde
(Though false my Fortunes prove) a Faithfull Mind.
Thus, unfainedly, professeth
Your Honours
truest Honourer,
Geo: Wither.
TO
THE RIGHT HONORABLE,
HENRIE, Earle of Holland, &c.
Captaine of the Guard; Lord-chiefe-Iustice in Eyre
of all his Majesties Forrests, Parkes and Chases
on this side Trent; Knight of the most noble Order
of the Garter, and one of his Majesties
most Honourable Privie Counsell.
Right Noble SIR,
HAving, of late, some Cause, to overlooke
That thankfull Register, wherein I booke
My noblest Friends; I found so many Names
Possessing nothing, but their honour’d Fames,
(Whose living Persons, wee injoyed, here,
A while agoe;) that, I began to feare,
I might grow Friendlesse; (having now so few)
Vnlesse I sought, their Number to renew.
By some Disasters, also, gaining proofe,
How much this Course would make for my behoofe;
I call’d my Wits to Counsell, Where, and How
I might, with hopefulnesse, begin to sow
The seeds of such a Blessing: And, me thought
Within mee, something said: Where should be sought
What thou so gladly wouldst renewed finde,
But, from some Branches of the selfe-same kinde;
Whose faire Aspects may seeme to promise fruit,
According to the Virtues of the Roote?
Assoone as Fancie had inform’d me so,
Your Lordship, came to my remembrance, too,
With what our Soveraigne’s Favour, Vulgar Fame,
Or, your owne Merits, addeth to your Name.
Which, having weigh’d, no doubts at all I had
Of Worth in Yov; But, rather, doubtings made
That, all my Wits would insufficient be,
To make that Worth, become a Friend to mee.
For, I have oft observ’d, that, Favour shunnes
The best Desert, if after her, it runnes.
Yet, who can tell what may befall? thought I:
It is no great Adventure, if I try
Without successe: And, if, I gaine my End,
I am assured of a Noble-Friend.
His honourable Father, deem’d mee worth
So much respecting as to seeke me forth,
When, I was more obscure: And, Mee, for nought
But, onely to Befriend mee, forth Hee sought.
Then, wherefore, of his Sonne, should I suspect
That (feeling Him) hee can my love reject?
Since, Courtesie doth alwaies, there, abound,
Where such a lovely Personage is found?
My LORD, these were my Fancies: But I take them
To be of no more worth, than, you shall make them
By your Acceptance: Nor, is’t my intent
To Court you, with fruitlesse Complement:
But, to attempt your Favour with a mind,
As readily, and really, inclinde
To serve you, when my services may steed;
As to expect your Favours, in my need.
For, had my Fates enabled me so much,
I should more willingly have sought out such
On whom I Courtesies might have bestowne,
Than, seeke to cure Misfortunes of mine owne.
No doubt, but, every day, your Lordship heares
Inventions, which may better please your eares
Than these I now present; And, yet you might
(For ought I knew) finde profit, or delight,
By our plaine EMBLEMS, or, some uses in them,
Which from your Honour, some respects may win them;
Ev’n for that good Moralitie, which they
To Vulgar Vnderstandings will convay.
But, Truth to speake, the chiefest cause which drew
My minde, to make them PRESENTS, for your view,
Was, but to take Occasion to professe,
That, I am Servant, to your WORTHINESSE.
In which, if YOV are pleased; All is got,
At which I aym’d: And, though you like it not,
It shall but teach Mee (for the time to come)
To take more heed, where I am troublesome.
And, I shall be, neverthelesse, your Honours to be commanded, as becommeth your Servant,
Geo: Wither.