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 |  |
218
Illvstr. X.
[When, in this Emblem, here, you have espide]
True Vertue, whatsoere betides,
In all extreames, unmoov'd abides.
In all extreames, unmoov'd abides.
When, in this Emblem, here, you have espide,
The shape of a triangled Pyramide,
And, have observed well, those mightie Rockes,
Whose firme foundation bides the dreadfull shockes
Of angry Neptune; you may thereby see,
How firmly setled, Vertues reall bee.
For, as the raging Seas, although they roare,
Can make no breach upon the Rockie shore;
And, as a true triangled Pyramide,
Stands fast, and shewes alike, on ev'ry side:
So, howsoever Fortune, turnes or winds,
Those men, which are indow'd with vertuous minds,
It is impossible, to drive them from
Those Formes, or Stations, which those minds become.
And, as the raging Sea, with foming threats,
Against the Rockie-shore, but vainely beats;
So, Envie shall in vaine, loud blustrings make,
When vertuous resolutions they would shake.
For, Vertue, which receives an overthrow,
Was Vertue, not indeed, but in the show.
The shape of a triangled Pyramide,
And, have observed well, those mightie Rockes,
Whose firme foundation bides the dreadfull shockes
Of angry Neptune; you may thereby see,
How firmly setled, Vertues reall bee.
For, as the raging Seas, although they roare,
Can make no breach upon the Rockie shore;
And, as a true triangled Pyramide,
Stands fast, and shewes alike, on ev'ry side:
So, howsoever Fortune, turnes or winds,
Those men, which are indow'd with vertuous minds,
It is impossible, to drive them from
Those Formes, or Stations, which those minds become.
And, as the raging Sea, with foming threats,
Against the Rockie-shore, but vainely beats;
So, Envie shall in vaine, loud blustrings make,
When vertuous resolutions they would shake.
For, Vertue, which receives an overthrow,
Was Vertue, not indeed, but in the show.
So farre am I, oh Lord! from laying claime
To have this Vertue, that, I doe but ayme
At such perfection; and, can come no nigher
As yet, than to obtaine it in desire.
But, fixe thou so, this weake desire of mine,
Vpon the Vertues of thy Rocke divine,
That I, and that invaluable Stone,
May bee incorporated into One:
And, then, it will bee neither shame, nor pride,
To say, my Vertues, will unmov'd abide.
To have this Vertue, that, I doe but ayme
At such perfection; and, can come no nigher
As yet, than to obtaine it in desire.
But, fixe thou so, this weake desire of mine,
Vpon the Vertues of thy Rocke divine,
That I, and that invaluable Stone,
May bee incorporated into One:
And, then, it will bee neither shame, nor pride,
To say, my Vertues, will unmov'd abide.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |