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 praise of the Righte Honorable my good Lorde, and Maister,
the Earle of Leycester.
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 | A choice of emblemes, and other devises |  |
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In praise of the Righte Honorable my good Lorde, and Maister, the Earle of Leycester.
Hee that desires to passe the surging Seas,Bycause they are so wonderfull to see,
And without skill, doth venture wheare hee please,
While that the waues both caulme, and quiet bee,
Weare better farre, to keepe him on the lande,
Then for to take such enterprise in hande.
For, if hee lacke his compasse, and his carde,
And arte therfore, to shape his course arighte:
Or pylottes good, that daungers may regarde,
When surge doth swell, and windes doe showe their mighte,
Doth perrill life, throughe wanton wreckles will,
And doth to late lamente his lacke of skill.
So, hee that shoulde with will, bee stirr'd to wryte,
Your noble actes, your giftes and vertues rare:
If Pallas ayde hee lacke, for to indite,
Hee should but haste his follie to declare.
And wronge your righte, deseruinge Vergils penne;
And Homers skill, if they weare here agayne.
Then, best for such to take a longer pause,
Then to attempte a thinge so farre vnfitte:
For, they may knowe to write of such a cause,
Beseemeth best, the fine, and rarest witte.
Yet those that woulde, I wishe their learninge sutche,
That as they shoulde, they mighte your vertues tutche.
| A choice of emblemes, and other devises | |