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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Quod potes, tenta.
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 | A choice of emblemes, and other devises |  |
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Quod potes, tenta.
While HERCVLES, with mightie clubbe in hande
In Lyons skinne did sleepe, and take his ease:
About him straighte approch'de the Pigmeis bande,
And for to kill this conquerour assaies,
But foolishe dwarffes? theire force was all to smalle,
For when he wak'de, like gnattes hee crush'd them all.
In Lyons skinne did sleepe, and take his ease:
About him straighte approch'de the Pigmeis bande,
And for to kill this conquerour assaies,
But foolishe dwarffes? theire force was all to smalle,
For when he wak'de, like gnattes hee crush'd them all.
This warneth vs, that nothinge paste our strengthe
Wee shoulde attempte: nor anie worke pretende,
Aboue our power: lest that with shame at lengthe
Wee weakelinges prooue, and fainte before the ende.
The pore, that striue with mightie, this doth blame:
And sottes, that seeke the learned to defame.
Turpe est quod nequeas capiti submittere pondus,
Wee shoulde attempte: nor anie worke pretende,
Aboue our power: lest that with shame at lengthe
Wee weakelinges prooue, and fainte before the ende.
The pore, that striue with mightie, this doth blame:
And sottes, that seeke the learned to defame.
Et pressum inflexo mox dare terga genu.
Propertius.
| A choice of emblemes, and other devises | |