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 |  |
207
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, HENRIE, Earle of Holland, &c. Captaine of the Guard; Lord-chiefe-Iustice in Eyre of all his Majesties Forrests, Parkes and Chases on this side Trent; Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Counsell.
Right Noble SIR,
Having
, of late, some Cause, to overlooke
That thankfull Register, wherein I booke
My noblest Friends; I found so many Names
Possessing nothing, but their honour'd Fames,
(Whose living Persons, wee injoyed, here,
A while agoe;) that, I began to feare,
I might grow Friendlesse; (having now so few)
Vnlesse I sought, their Number to renew.
That thankfull Register, wherein I booke
My noblest Friends; I found so many Names
Possessing nothing, but their honour'd Fames,
(Whose living Persons, wee injoyed, here,
A while agoe;) that, I began to feare,
I might grow Friendlesse; (having now so few)
Vnlesse I sought, their Number to renew.
By some Disasters, also, gaining proofe,
How much this Course would make for my behoofe;
I call'd my Wits to Counsell, Where, and How
I might, with hopefulnesse, begin to sow
The seeds of such a Blessing: And, me thought
Within mee, something said: Where should be sought
What thou so gladly wouldst renewed finde,
But, from some Branches of the selfe-same kinde;
Whose faire Aspects may seeme to promise fruit,
According to the Virtues of the Roote?
How much this Course would make for my behoofe;
I call'd my Wits to Counsell, Where, and How
I might, with hopefulnesse, begin to sow
The seeds of such a Blessing: And, me thought
Within mee, something said: Where should be sought
What thou so gladly wouldst renewed finde,
But, from some Branches of the selfe-same kinde;
Whose faire Aspects may seeme to promise fruit,
According to the Virtues of the Roote?
Assoone as Fancie had inform'd me so,
Your Lordship, came to my remembrance, too,
With what our Soveraigne's Favour, Vulgar Fame,
Or, your owne Merits, addeth to your Name.
Which, having weigh'd, no doubts at all I had
Of Worth in Yov; But, rather, doubtings made
That, all my Wits would insufficient be,
To make that Worth, become a Friend to mee.
For, I have oft observ'd, that, Favour shunnes
The best Desert, if after her, it runnes.
Your Lordship, came to my remembrance, too,
With what our Soveraigne's Favour, Vulgar Fame,
Or, your owne Merits, addeth to your Name.
Which, having weigh'd, no doubts at all I had
Of Worth in Yov; But, rather, doubtings made
That, all my Wits would insufficient be,
To make that Worth, become a Friend to mee.
For, I have oft observ'd, that, Favour shunnes
The best Desert, if after her, it runnes.
Yet, who can tell what may befall? thought I:
It is no great Adventure, if I try
Without successe: And, if, I gaine my End,
I am assured of a Noble-Friend.
His honourable Father, deem'd mee worth
So much respecting as to seeke me forth,
When, I was more Obscure: And, Mee, for nought
But, onely to Befriend mee, forth Hee sought.
Then wherefore, of his Sonne, should I suspect
That (seeking Him) hee can my love reject?
Since, Courtesie doth alwaies, there, abound,
Where such a lovely Personage is found?
It is no great Adventure, if I try
Without successe: And, if, I gaine my End,
I am assured of a Noble-Friend.
His honourable Father, deem'd mee worth
So much respecting as to seeke me forth,
When, I was more Obscure: And, Mee, for nought
But, onely to Befriend mee, forth Hee sought.
Then wherefore, of his Sonne, should I suspect
That (seeking Him) hee can my love reject?
Since, Courtesie doth alwaies, there, abound,
Where such a lovely Personage is found?
208
My LORD, these were my Fancies: But I take them
To be of no more worth, than, you shall make them
By your Acceptance: Nor, is't my intent
To Court you, with a fruitlesse Complement:
But, to attempt your Favour with a mind,
As readily, and really, inclinde
To serve you, when my services may steed;
As to expect your Favours, in my need.
For, had my Fates enabled me so much,
I should more willingly have sought out such
On whom I Courtesies might have bestowne,
Than, seeke to cure Misfortunes of mine owne.
To be of no more worth, than, you shall make them
By your Acceptance: Nor, is't my intent
To Court you, with a fruitlesse Complement:
But, to attempt your Favour with a mind,
As readily, and really, inclinde
To serve you, when my services may steed;
As to expect your Favours, in my need.
For, had my Fates enabled me so much,
I should more willingly have sought out such
On whom I Courtesies might have bestowne,
Than, seeke to cure Misfortunes of mine owne.
No doubt, but, every day, your Lordship heares
Inventions, which may better please your eares
Than these I now present; And, yet you might
(For ought I knew) finde profit, or delight,
By our plaine EMBLEMS, or some uses in them,
Which from your Honour, some respects may win them;
Ev'n for that good Moralitie, which they
To Vulgar Vnderstandings will convay.
Inventions, which may better please your eares
Than these I now present; And, yet you might
(For ought I knew) finde profit, or delight,
By our plaine EMBLEMS, or some uses in them,
Which from your Honour, some respects may win them;
Ev'n for that good Moralitie, which they
To Vulgar Vnderstandings will convay.
But, Truth to speake, the chiefest cause which drew
My minde, to make them PRESENTS, for your view,
Was, but to take Occasion to professe,
That, I am Servant, to your WORTHINESSE.
In which, if YOV are pleased; All is got
At which I aym'd: And, though you like it not,
It shall but teach Mee (for the time to come)
To take more heed, where I am troublesome.
My minde, to make them PRESENTS, for your view,
Was, but to take Occasion to professe,
That, I am Servant, to your WORTHINESSE.
In which, if YOV are pleased; All is got
At which I aym'd: And, though you like it not,
It shall but teach Mee (for the time to come)
To take more heed, where I am troublesome.
And, I shall be, neverthelesse, your Honours to be commanded,
as becommeth your Servant, Geo: Wither.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |