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 |  |
205
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE PHILLIP, Earle of Pembrooke, and Movntgomerie, &c. Lord Chamberlaine of the Houshould, Knight of the most honourable Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie-Councell.
My Honourable Lord,
Though, Worthlesse in my owne repute I am;
And, (though my Fortune, so obscures my Name
Beneath my Hopes; that, now, it makes me seeme
As little worth, in other mens esteeme,
As in mine owne;) yet, when my Merits were
No better, than, to most, they now appeare,
It pleased some, ev'n some of those that had
The Noblest Names, (and, those of whom was made
The best Account) so lowly to descend,
As, my well-meaning Studies, to befriend.
And, (though my Fortune, so obscures my Name
Beneath my Hopes; that, now, it makes me seeme
As little worth, in other mens esteeme,
As in mine owne;) yet, when my Merits were
No better, than, to most, they now appeare,
It pleased some, ev'n some of those that had
The Noblest Names, (and, those of whom was made
The best Account) so lowly to descend,
As, my well-meaning Studies, to befriend.
Among those Worthies, I may both bemone
(My selfe in Him) and memorize, for One,
Your much renowned Brother, as a Chiefe
In bringing to my waned Hopes, reliefe;
And, in my Faculties, were I as able
To honour Him, as he was honourable,
I would have showne, how, all this Emperie
Hath lost a Friend, in Him, asmuch as I.
(My selfe in Him) and memorize, for One,
Your much renowned Brother, as a Chiefe
In bringing to my waned Hopes, reliefe;
And, in my Faculties, were I as able
To honour Him, as he was honourable,
I would have showne, how, all this Emperie
Hath lost a Friend, in Him, asmuch as I.
To Mee, so freely, of his owne accord
It pleased Him, his Favours, to afford;
That, when our learned, and late Sov'raigne-Prince,
(By others mis-informed) tooke offence
At my Free Lines; Hee, foun'd such Meanes and Place
To bring, and reconcile mee to his Grace;
That, therewithall, his Majestie bestow'd
A Gift upon mee, which his Bountie show'd:
And, had inrich'd mee; if, what was intended,
Had not, by othersome, beene ill befriended.
It pleased Him, his Favours, to afford;
That, when our learned, and late Sov'raigne-Prince,
(By others mis-informed) tooke offence
At my Free Lines; Hee, foun'd such Meanes and Place
To bring, and reconcile mee to his Grace;
That, therewithall, his Majestie bestow'd
A Gift upon mee, which his Bountie show'd:
And, had inrich'd mee; if, what was intended,
Had not, by othersome, beene ill befriended.
But, as I long time, suffred have by those
Who labour'd much, my thrivings, to oppose:
So, I my selfe, (although not out of pride,
As many thinke it) have so much relide
Vpon the Royall-Gift, neglecting so
To fortifie the same, as others do
By making Friends; that my estate grew lesse
(By more than twice five hundred Marks decrease)
Through that, which for, my profit was bestowne.
And, I, ere this, had wholly been undone;
But, that the Wealth, which I relie on, most,
Consists in things, which never can be lost.
Who labour'd much, my thrivings, to oppose:
So, I my selfe, (although not out of pride,
As many thinke it) have so much relide
Vpon the Royall-Gift, neglecting so
To fortifie the same, as others do
By making Friends; that my estate grew lesse
(By more than twice five hundred Marks decrease)
Through that, which for, my profit was bestowne.
And, I, ere this, had wholly been undone;
But, that the Wealth, which I relie on, most,
Consists in things, which never can be lost.
206
Yet, by this Losse, I have Occasions had
To feele, why other men are often sad.
And, I, (who blushed, to be troublesome
To any Friend) therby, almost am come
To such a passe; that, what I wish to have,
I should grow impudent enough to Crave,
Had not impartiall Death, and wasting Time,
Of all my Friends quite worne away the Prime;
And, left mee none, to whom I dare present
The meanest suite without encouragement:
Although, the greatest Boone, I would implore,
Should cost them, but a Word, or little more.
Yet, some there are, no doubt, for whose respect
I might endeavour, with no vaine effect;
Had I but cause, to have as high esteeme,
Of mine owne Merits, as I have of them.
And, if your Honour should be so inclin'd,
As I desire; I, now am sure to finde
Another Pembrooke, by whose ayde sustain'd,
I may preserve, what by the Last I gain'd.
To feele, why other men are often sad.
And, I, (who blushed, to be troublesome
To any Friend) therby, almost am come
To such a passe; that, what I wish to have,
I should grow impudent enough to Crave,
Had not impartiall Death, and wasting Time,
Of all my Friends quite worne away the Prime;
And, left mee none, to whom I dare present
The meanest suite without encouragement:
Although, the greatest Boone, I would implore,
Should cost them, but a Word, or little more.
Yet, some there are, no doubt, for whose respect
I might endeavour, with no vaine effect;
Had I but cause, to have as high esteeme,
Of mine owne Merits, as I have of them.
And, if your Honour should be so inclin'd,
As I desire; I, now am sure to finde
Another Pembrooke, by whose ayde sustain'd,
I may preserve, what by the Last I gain'd.
To make adventure, how it will succeed,
I now am come. And lo, my Lord, insteed
Of better Advocates, I first begin,
Mine Emblems, by these Lines, to Vsher in;
That, they, by their admittance may effect
For Mee, and for themselves, your kinde respect.
I now am come. And lo, my Lord, insteed
Of better Advocates, I first begin,
Mine Emblems, by these Lines, to Vsher in;
That, they, by their admittance may effect
For Mee, and for themselves, your kinde respect.
That, which in them, best Worthy you shall find,
Is this; that, they are Symptomes of a Minde,
Affecting honestie: and of a Heart,
So truly honouring a true desert,
That, I am hopefull made, they will acquire
As much respect as I can well desire:
And, Sir, your Candor, your knowne Courtesies,
With other praisefull Vertues, make mee rise
To this Beliefe; that, Yov by fav'ring mee
Hereafter, may as highly honour'd be,
As by some former Bounties; and encrease
My Future Merit, by your Worthinesse.
Is this; that, they are Symptomes of a Minde,
Affecting honestie: and of a Heart,
So truly honouring a true desert,
That, I am hopefull made, they will acquire
As much respect as I can well desire:
And, Sir, your Candor, your knowne Courtesies,
With other praisefull Vertues, make mee rise
To this Beliefe; that, Yov by fav'ring mee
Hereafter, may as highly honour'd be,
As by some former Bounties; and encrease
My Future Merit, by your Worthinesse.
However, what I am or shall be knowne
To Bee, by Your Deservings, or mine owne,
You may command it; and, be sure to finde
(Though false my Fortunes prove) a Faithfull Mind.
To Bee, by Your Deservings, or mine owne,
You may command it; and, be sure to finde
(Though false my Fortunes prove) a Faithfull Mind.
Thus, unfainedly, professeth Your Honours
truest Honourer, Geo: Wither.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |