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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 | A Collection of Emblemes |  |
183
Illvstr. XLIX.
[Some write (but, on what grounds, I cannot tell)]
Bee warie, wheresoe're, thou bee:
For, from deceit, no place is free.
For, from deceit, no place is free.
Some write (but, on what grounds, I cannot tell)
That they, who neere unto the Deserts dwell,
Where Elephants are found, doe notice take,
What trees they haunt, their sleeping-stocks to make;
That, when they rest against an halfe-fawne stemme,
It (falling) may betray those Beasts to them.
That they, who neere unto the Deserts dwell,
Where Elephants are found, doe notice take,
What trees they haunt, their sleeping-stocks to make;
That, when they rest against an halfe-fawne stemme,
It (falling) may betray those Beasts to them.
Now, though the part Historicall, may erre,
The Morall, which this Emblem doth inferre,
Is overtrue; and, seemeth to imply,
The World to bee so full of Treacherie,
As, that, no corner of it, found can be,
In which, from Falshoods Engines, wee are free.
The Morall, which this Emblem doth inferre,
Is overtrue; and, seemeth to imply,
The World to bee so full of Treacherie,
As, that, no corner of it, found can be,
In which, from Falshoods Engines, wee are free.
I have observ'd the Citie; and, I finde
The Citizens, are civill, grave and kinde;
Yet, many are deluded by their showes,
And, cheated, when they trust in them repose.
I have been oft at Court; where I have spent,
Some idle time, to heare them Complement:
But, I have seene in Courtiers, such deceit,
That, for their Favours, I could never wait.
I doe frequent the Church; and, I have heard
Gods judgements, by the Preachers, there, declar'd,
Against mens falshoods; and, I gladly heare
Their zealous Prayers, and good Counsells there;
But, as I live, I finde some such as they,
Will watch to doe a mischiefe, if they may.
Nay, those poore sneaking Clownes, who seeke their living,
As if they knew no manner of deceiving;
Ev'n those, their witts, can (this way) so apply,
That, they'l soone cousen, wiser men, than I.
The Citizens, are civill, grave and kinde;
Yet, many are deluded by their showes,
And, cheated, when they trust in them repose.
I have been oft at Court; where I have spent,
Some idle time, to heare them Complement:
But, I have seene in Courtiers, such deceit,
That, for their Favours, I could never wait.
I doe frequent the Church; and, I have heard
Gods judgements, by the Preachers, there, declar'd,
Against mens falshoods; and, I gladly heare
Their zealous Prayers, and good Counsells there;
But, as I live, I finde some such as they,
Will watch to doe a mischiefe, if they may.
Nay, those poore sneaking Clownes, who seeke their living,
As if they knew no manner of deceiving;
Ev'n those, their witts, can (this way) so apply,
That, they'l soone cousen, wiser men, than I.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |