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 |
 |
 | A Collection of Emblemes |  |
227
Illvstr. XIX
[Good Folkes, take heede; for, here's a wanton Wagge]
Be wary, whosoe're thou be,
For, from Loves arrowes, none are free.
For, from Loves arrowes, none are free.
Good Folkes, take heede; for, here's a wanton Wagge,
Who, having Bowes and Arrowes, makes his bragg
That, he hath some unhappy trick to play;
And, vowes to shoot at all he meets to day.
Pray be not carelesse; for, the Boy is blinde,
And, sometimes strikes, where most he seemeth kinde.
This rambling Archer spares nor one, nor other:
Yea, otherwhile, the Monkey shoots his Mother.
Who, having Bowes and Arrowes, makes his bragg
That, he hath some unhappy trick to play;
And, vowes to shoot at all he meets to day.
Pray be not carelesse; for, the Boy is blinde,
And, sometimes strikes, where most he seemeth kinde.
This rambling Archer spares nor one, nor other:
Yea, otherwhile, the Monkey shoots his Mother.
Though you be little Children, come not neere;
For, I remember (though't be many a yeare
Now gone and past,) that, when I was a Lad,
My Heart, a pricke, by this young Wanton had,
That, pain'd me seven yeares after: nor had I
The grace (thus warn'd) to scape his waggery;
But many times, ev'n since I was a man,
He shot me, oftner then I tell you can:
And, if I had not bene the stronger-hearted,
I, for my over-daring, might have smarted.
For, I remember (though't be many a yeare
Now gone and past,) that, when I was a Lad,
My Heart, a pricke, by this young Wanton had,
That, pain'd me seven yeares after: nor had I
The grace (thus warn'd) to scape his waggery;
But many times, ev'n since I was a man,
He shot me, oftner then I tell you can:
And, if I had not bene the stronger-hearted,
I, for my over-daring, might have smarted.
You laugh now, as if this were nothing so;
But, if you meet this Blinkard with his Bow,
You may, unlesse you take the better care,
Receive a wound, before you be aware.
I feare him not; for, I have learned how
To keepe my heart-strings from his Arrowes now:
And, so might you, and so might ev'ry one
That vaine Occasions, truely seekes to shunn.
But, if you sleight my Counsells, you may chance
To blame at last, your willfull ignorance:
For, some, who thought, at first, his wounds but small
Have dyed by them, in an Hospitall.
But, if you meet this Blinkard with his Bow,
You may, unlesse you take the better care,
Receive a wound, before you be aware.
I feare him not; for, I have learned how
To keepe my heart-strings from his Arrowes now:
And, so might you, and so might ev'ry one
That vaine Occasions, truely seekes to shunn.
But, if you sleight my Counsells, you may chance
To blame at last, your willfull ignorance:
For, some, who thought, at first, his wounds but small
Have dyed by them, in an Hospitall.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |