Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical Expressed in Sculpture, and Applied to the several Ages, Occasions, and Conditions of the Life of Man. By a person of Quality |
Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical | ||
59
EMBLEM XXX. Labour in vain.
To the Naturall.
Bray a foole in a morter yet etc.
prov: 27. 22.
The Prophet asks, Can Blackmoor change his skin?
Not as a thing he'd be resolved in;
But takes it to be granted as most true,
A Blackmoor possibly can't change his hue.
Not as a thing he'd be resolved in;
But takes it to be granted as most true,
A Blackmoor possibly can't change his hue.
What's bred i'th' bone, wo'n't out o'th' flesh, we say;
No man his constitution alter may:
We may as well stop course of Moon or Sun,
As bring to pass what Nature wo'n't have done.
No man his constitution alter may:
We may as well stop course of Moon or Sun,
As bring to pass what Nature wo'n't have done.
Put fool in Mortar, bray him while ye will,
A fool he was, a fool he will be still.
The sluggish person will a sluggard be,
Though he is sure 'twill end in beggery.
A fool he was, a fool he will be still.
The sluggish person will a sluggard be,
Though he is sure 'twill end in beggery.
A man that naturally is proud and high,
Up he will climb, as if he'd scale the skie:
And he that fo of nature poor and base,
Wants confidence to look a man i'th' face.
Up he will climb, as if he'd scale the skie:
And he that fo of nature poor and base,
Wants confidence to look a man i'th' face.
In many others we might instance make,
With whom if we the greatest pains should take
To work a change, from morning unto night,
'Twould be but as to wash the Blackmoor white.
With whom if we the greatest pains should take
To work a change, from morning unto night,
'Twould be but as to wash the Blackmoor white.
Then let us not in our attempts be vain,
By taking things in hand we can't attain;
But evermore such matters set upon
As are within our power to be done.
By taking things in hand we can't attain;
But evermore such matters set upon
As are within our power to be done.
Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical | ||