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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Sine iustitia, confusio.
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 | A choice of emblemes, and other devises |  |
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Sine iustitia, confusio.
Ad eosdem Iudices.
When Fire, and Aire, and Earthe, and Water, all weare one:
Before that worke deuine was wroughte, which nowe wee looke vppon.
There was no forme of thinges, but a confused masse:
A lumpe, which Chaos men did call: wherin no order was,
The Coulde, and Heate, did striue: the Heauie thinges, and Lighte.
The Harde, and Softe. the Wette, and Drye. for none had shape arighte.
But when they weare dispos'd, eache one into his roome:
The Fire, had Heate: the Aire, had Lighte: the Earthe, with fruites did bloome.
The Sea, had his increase: which thinges, to passe thus broughte:
Behoulde, of this vnperfecte masse, the goodly worlde was wroughte.
Then all thinges did abounde, that seru'd the vse of man:
The Riuers greate, with wyne, and oyle, and milke, and honie, ranne.
The Trees did yeeld their fruite: thoughe planting then vnknowne.
And Ceres still was in her pompe, thoughe seede weare neuer sowne.
The season, Sommer was: the Groues weare alwayes greene.
And euery banke, did beare the badge, of fragrant Flora Queene.
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No hate, was harbor'd then at home: nor hatch'd, in forren coste.
But after, when the earthe, with people did increase:
Ambition, straighte began to springe: and pryde, did banishe peace.
For, as all tymes doe change: euen so, this age did passe.
Then did the siluer age insue. and then, the age of brasse.
The Iron age was laste, a fearefull cursed tyme:
Then, armies came of mischiefes in: and fil'd the worlde with cryme.
Then rigor, and reuenge, did springe in euell hower:
And men of mighte, did manadge all, and poore opprest with power.
And hee, that mightie was, his worde, did stand for lawe:
And what the poore did ploughe, and sowe: the ritch away did drawe.
None mighte their wiues inioye, their daughters, or their goodes,
No, not their liues: such tyraunts broode, did seeke to spill their bloodes.
Then vertues weare defac'd, and dim'd with vices vile,
Then wronge, did maske in cloke of righte: then bad, did good exile.
Then falshood, shadowed truthe: and hate, laugh'd loue to skorne:
Then pitie, and compassion died: and bloodshed fowle was borne.
So that no vertues then, their proper shapes did beare:
Nor coulde from vices bee decern'd, so straunge they mixed weare.
That nowe, into the worlde, an other Chaos came:
But God, that of the former heape: the heauen and earthe did frame.
And all thinges plac'd therein, his glorye to declare:
Sente Ivstice downe vnto the earthe: such loue to man hee bare.
Who, so suruay'd the world, with such an heauenly vewe:
That quickley vertues shee aduanc'd: and vices did subdue.
And, of that worlde did make, a paradice, of blisse:
By which wee doo inferre: That where this sacred Goddes is.
That land doth florishe still, and gladnes, their doth growe:
Bicause that all, to God, and Prince, by her their dewties knowe.
And where her presence wantes, there ruine raignes, and wracke:
And kingdomes can not longe indure, that doe this ladie lacke.
Then happie England most, where Ivstice is embrac'd:
And eeke so many famous men, within her chaire are plac'd.
------ sed comprime motus,
Nec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse licebit,
Occurrat, mentemque domet respectus honesti.
Nec tibi quid liceat, sed quid fecisse licebit,
Occurrat, mentemque domet respectus honesti.
| A choice of emblemes, and other devises | |