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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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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.

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.
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.
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.