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 |  |
233
Illvstr. XXV.
[When Silver Medalls, or some coynes of Gold]
All is not Gold, which makes a show;
But, what the Touchstone findeth so.
But, what the Touchstone findeth so.
When Silver Medalls, or some coynes of Gold,
Are by the Gold-smith either bought or sold,
Hee doth not only search them with his Eye,
But, by the Scale, their weight will also trie;
Or, by the Touchstone, or the Test, assay
The truenesse of them, and their just Alay.
Now, by their warinesse, who thus proceed,
Wee fairely are admonished, to heed
The faithfulnesse of him wee make our Friend;
And, on whose love wee purpose to depend:
Or else, when wee a Iewell thinke to get,
Wee may bee cheated by a Counterfet.
Are by the Gold-smith either bought or sold,
Hee doth not only search them with his Eye,
But, by the Scale, their weight will also trie;
Or, by the Touchstone, or the Test, assay
The truenesse of them, and their just Alay.
Now, by their warinesse, who thus proceed,
Wee fairely are admonished, to heed
The faithfulnesse of him wee make our Friend;
And, on whose love wee purpose to depend:
Or else, when wee a Iewell thinke to get,
Wee may bee cheated by a Counterfet.
All is not Gold that glisters: Otherwhile,
The Tincture is so good, it may beguile
The cunningst eye: But, bring it to the Touch,
And, then, you find the value not so much.
Some, keepe the Tincture, brooking, likewise, well
An ordinarie Touch; but, yeeld a Smell,
Which will discover it, if you apply
Vnto your Nose, that piece of Chymistrie.
Sometime, when there's enough to give content,
In Colour, in the Touch, and in the Scent;
The Bulke, is more than answers Gold in weight,
And, proves it a sophisticall deceit.
Nay, some, is fully that which you desire,
In all these Properties; and, till the fire
Hath made assayes, you'l thinke you might be bold
To pawne your life, it had been Ophir-gold:
But, to bee false, the Metall's then descride;
And, such are many Friends, when they are tride.
The Tincture is so good, it may beguile
The cunningst eye: But, bring it to the Touch,
And, then, you find the value not so much.
Some, keepe the Tincture, brooking, likewise, well
An ordinarie Touch; but, yeeld a Smell,
Which will discover it, if you apply
Vnto your Nose, that piece of Chymistrie.
Sometime, when there's enough to give content,
In Colour, in the Touch, and in the Scent;
The Bulke, is more than answers Gold in weight,
And, proves it a sophisticall deceit.
Nay, some, is fully that which you desire,
In all these Properties; and, till the fire
Hath made assayes, you'l thinke you might be bold
To pawne your life, it had been Ophir-gold:
But, to bee false, the Metall's then descride;
And, such are many Friends, when they are tride.
| A Collection of Emblemes | |