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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In sortis suæ contemptores.
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 | A choice of emblemes, and other devises |  |
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In sortis suæ contemptores.
Here Damocles, desirous for to taste,
The princelie fare, of Dionysivs kinge,
In royall seate, was at the table plaste,
Where pages braue, all daintie cates did bringe:
His bed of goulde, with curious coueringes spred,
And cubbourdes ritche, with plate about his bed.
The princelie fare, of Dionysivs kinge,
In royall seate, was at the table plaste,
Where pages braue, all daintie cates did bringe:
His bed of goulde, with curious coueringes spred,
And cubbourdes ritche, with plate about his bed.
No where hee stay'de, but musique sweete did sounde;
No where hee went, but hee did odors smell;
Nowe in his pompe, when all thinges did abounde,
Being ask'd, if that this life did please him well:
Hee aunswere made, it was the heauen alone,
And that to it, all other liues weare none.
No where hee went, but hee did odors smell;
Nowe in his pompe, when all thinges did abounde,
Being ask'd, if that this life did please him well:
Hee aunswere made, it was the heauen alone,
And that to it, all other liues weare none.
Then, did the king comaunde a naked sworde,
Vnto the roofe, shoulde with a heare bee knit:
That right shoulde hange, when hee was plac'd at bourde,
Aboue his head, where he did vse to sit:
Which when hee sawe, as one distracte with care,
Hee had no ioye in mirthe, nor daintie fare.
Vnto the roofe, shoulde with a heare bee knit:
That right shoulde hange, when hee was plac'd at bourde,
Aboue his head, where he did vse to sit:
Which when hee sawe, as one distracte with care,
Hee had no ioye in mirthe, nor daintie fare.
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But did beseech, the Tyraunt for to giue,
His former state, and take his pompe againe:
By which, wee learne, that those who meanely liue,
Haue ofte more ioye, them those who rule and raigne:
But cheifelye, if like him they doe appeare,
Who night, and daye, of subiectes stoode in feare.
His former state, and take his pompe againe:
By which, wee learne, that those who meanely liue,
Haue ofte more ioye, them those who rule and raigne:
But cheifelye, if like him they doe appeare,
Who night, and daye, of subiectes stoode in feare.
| A choice of emblemes, and other devises | |