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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Illvstr. XIV
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 | A Collection of Emblemes |  |
222
Illvstr. XIV
[They are not Houses builded large and high]
The best, and fairest House, to mee,
Is that, where best I love to bee.
Is that, where best I love to bee.
They are not Houses builded large and high,
Seel'd all with Gold, and pav'd with Porphyrie,
Hung round with Arras, glaz'd with Christall-glasse,
And cover'd o're with plates of shining Brasse,
Which are the best; but, rather, those where wee
In safetie, health, and best content, may bee;
And, where wee finde, though in a meane Estate,
That portion, which maintaines a quiet Fate.
Seel'd all with Gold, and pav'd with Porphyrie,
Hung round with Arras, glaz'd with Christall-glasse,
And cover'd o're with plates of shining Brasse,
Which are the best; but, rather, those where wee
In safetie, health, and best content, may bee;
And, where wee finde, though in a meane Estate,
That portion, which maintaines a quiet Fate.
Here, in a homely Cottage, thatcht with reed,
The Peasant seemes as pleasedly to feed,
As hee, that in his Hall or Parlour dines,
Which Fret-worke Roofes, or costly Cedar Lines:
And, with the very same affections too,
Both to, and from it, hee doth come and goe.
The Tortois, doubtlesse, doth no house-roome lack,
Although his House will cover but his back;
And, of his Tub, the Cynicke seem'd as glad,
As Alexander was of all hee had.
When I am setled in a place I love,
A shrubby hedge-row, seemes a goodly Grove.
My liking maketh Palaces of Sheds,
And, of plaine Couches, carved Ivory Beds:
Yea, ev'ry path, and pathlesse walke, which lies
Contemn'd, as rude, or wilde, in others eyes,
To mee is pleasant; not alone in show,
But, truly such: For, liking makes them so.
As pleas'd in theirs, the Snailes, and Cocles dwell,
As doth a Scallop in his pearly shell:
For, that commends the House, which makes it fit,
To serve their turnes, who should have use of it.
The Peasant seemes as pleasedly to feed,
As hee, that in his Hall or Parlour dines,
Which Fret-worke Roofes, or costly Cedar Lines:
And, with the very same affections too,
Both to, and from it, hee doth come and goe.
The Tortois, doubtlesse, doth no house-roome lack,
Although his House will cover but his back;
And, of his Tub, the Cynicke seem'd as glad,
As Alexander was of all hee had.
When I am setled in a place I love,
A shrubby hedge-row, seemes a goodly Grove.
My liking maketh Palaces of Sheds,
And, of plaine Couches, carved Ivory Beds:
Yea, ev'ry path, and pathlesse walke, which lies
Contemn'd, as rude, or wilde, in others eyes,
To mee is pleasant; not alone in show,
But, truly such: For, liking makes them so.
As pleas'd in theirs, the Snailes, and Cocles dwell,
As doth a Scallop in his pearly shell:
For, that commends the House, which makes it fit,
To serve their turnes, who should have use of it.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |