Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638) :: :: University of Virginia Library

Always pruning? alwaies cropping?
Is her brightnesse still obscur'd?
Ever dressing? ever topping?
Alwaies cureing? never cur'd?
Too much snuffing makes a waste;
When the spirits spend too fast,
They will shrinke at ev'ry blast.

2

You that alwaies are bestowing
Costly paines in lifes repairing,
Are but alwaies overthrowing
Natures worke, by overcaring:
Nature meeting with her Foe,
In a work she hath to doe,
Takes a pride to overthrow.

3

Nature knowes her owne perfection,
And her pride disdaines a Tutor,
Can not stoope to Arts correction,
And she scornes a Coadjutor;
Saucy Art should not appeare
Till she whisper in her eare:
Hagar flees, if Sara beare.

4

Nature worketh for the better,
If not hindred, that she cannot;
Art stands by as her Abettor,
Ending nothing she began not;
If distemper chance to seize,
(Nature foyl'd with the disease)
Art may helpe her if she please.

5

But to make a Trade of trying
Drugs, and Dosies, always pruning,
Is to dye, for feare of dying;
Hee's untun'd, thats alwaies tuneing.
He that often loves to lack
Deare bought Drugs, has found a Knack
To foyle the man, and feede the Quack.

6

O the sad, the fraile Condition
Of the pride of Natures glory!
How infirme his Composition!
And, at best, how Transitory!
When his Ryot doth impayre
Natures weaknesss, then his care
Adds more ruine, by repaire.

7

Hold thy hand, healths Deare maintainer,
Life perchance may burne the stronger:
Having substance to sustaine her,
She, untoucht, may last the longer:
When the Artist goes about
To redresse her flame, I doubt,
Oftentimes he snuffes it out.

NICOCLES

Physitian of all men are most happy; what good success soever they have, the world proclaimes, and what faults they commit, the earth covers.

EPIGRAM 4.

[My purse be'ng heavy, if my Light appeare]

My purse be'ng heavy, if my Light appeare
But Dimme, Quack comes to make all cleare;
Quack, leave thy trade; Thy Dealings are not right,
Thou tak'st our weighty gold, to give us light.