A Collection of Emblemes Ancient and Moderne: Quickened VVith Metricall Illvstrations, both Morall and Divine: And disposed into Lotteries, That Instruction, and Good Counsell, may bee furthered by an Honest and Pleasant Recreation. By George Wither |
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Illvstr. XXXIV
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 | A Collection of Emblemes |  |
242
Illvstr. XXXIV
[It is this Emblems meaning, to advance]
Since overmuch, will over-fill,
Powre out enough; but doe not spill.
Powre out enough; but doe not spill.
It is this Emblems meaning, to advance
The love and practise, of true Temperance.
For, by this Figure (which doth seeme to fill,
Vntill the liquor overflow, and spill)
Wee are, as by example, taught to see
How fruitlesse our Intemperancies bee:
Thus by the Rule of Contrarieties,
Some Vertues, best are showne to vulgar eyes.
The love and practise, of true Temperance.
For, by this Figure (which doth seeme to fill,
Vntill the liquor overflow, and spill)
Wee are, as by example, taught to see
How fruitlesse our Intemperancies bee:
Thus by the Rule of Contrarieties,
Some Vertues, best are showne to vulgar eyes.
To see a nastie Drunkard, reele and spew,
More moves to Sobernesse, than can the view
Of twentie civill men; and, to behold
One Prodigall, (that goodly lands hath fold)
Stand torne and louzie, begging at the dore,
Would make Intemperance abhorred more,
(And, manly Sobernesse, much better, each)
Than all that fixe Philosophers can preach:
So, by the Vessels overflowing, here,
True Moderation doth more prais'd appeare,
Than by the meane it selfe: And, without sinne,
That's pictur'd, which to doe, had wicked bin,
For, though to vertuous ends; wee doe deny
The Doing-ill, that Good may come thereby.
More moves to Sobernesse, than can the view
Of twentie civill men; and, to behold
One Prodigall, (that goodly lands hath fold)
Stand torne and louzie, begging at the dore,
Would make Intemperance abhorred more,
(And, manly Sobernesse, much better, each)
Than all that fixe Philosophers can preach:
So, by the Vessels overflowing, here,
True Moderation doth more prais'd appeare,
Than by the meane it selfe: And, without sinne,
That's pictur'd, which to doe, had wicked bin,
For, though to vertuous ends; wee doe deny
The Doing-ill, that Good may come thereby.
From hence, let us be taught, that carefull heed,
Whereby wee should both Minde and Bodie, feed.
Let us, of our owne selves, observe the size;
How much wee want, how little will suffize;
And, our owne longings, rather leave unfill'd,
Than suffer any portion to bee spill'd:
For, what we marre, shall to account be layd,
And, what wee wisely spend, shall be repayd.
Whereby wee should both Minde and Bodie, feed.
Let us, of our owne selves, observe the size;
How much wee want, how little will suffize;
And, our owne longings, rather leave unfill'd,
Than suffer any portion to bee spill'd:
For, what we marre, shall to account be layd,
And, what wee wisely spend, shall be repayd.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |