A choice of emblemes, and other devises For the moste part gathered out of sundrie writers, Englished and Moralized. And divers newly devised, by Geffrey Whitney. A worke adorned with varietie of matter, both pleasant and profitable: Wherein those that please, maye finde to fit their fancies: Bicause herein, by the office of the eie, and the eare, the minde maye reape dooble delighte throughe holsome preceptes, shadowed with pleasant deuises: both fit for the vertuous, to their incoraging: and for the wicked, for their admonishing and amendment |
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 | A choice of emblemes, and other devises |  |
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Pulchritudo sine fructu.
To Arthvre Starkey Esquier.
The Cipresse tree is pleasinge to the sighte,
Straighte, tall, and greene, and sweete vnto the smell:
Yet, yeeldes no fruicte vnto the trauaylinge wighte,
But naughte, and bad, experience dothe vs tell:
Where, other trees that make not suche a showe,
Yeelde pleasante fruicte, and plentifullie growe.
Straighte, tall, and greene, and sweete vnto the smell:
Yet, yeeldes no fruicte vnto the trauaylinge wighte,
But naughte, and bad, experience dothe vs tell:
Where, other trees that make not suche a showe,
Yeelde pleasante fruicte, and plentifullie growe.
This gallante tree that good, and fruictfull seemes,
In couerte sorte, a kinde of men doth checke:
Whose curtesie, no man but much esteemes,
Who promise muche, and faune about our necke.
But if wee trie, their deedes wee barren finde,
Or yeelde but fruicte, like to the Cipresse kinde.
Pulchra coma est, pulchro digestæque ordine frondes;
In couerte sorte, a kinde of men doth checke:
Whose curtesie, no man but much esteemes,
Who promise muche, and faune about our necke.
But if wee trie, their deedes wee barren finde,
Or yeelde but fruicte, like to the Cipresse kinde.
Sed fructus nullos hæc coma pulchra gerit.
Alciatus.
| A choice of emblemes, and other devises | |