Divine emblems Embellished with etchings on copper, after the fashion of Master Francis Quarles. Designed and written by, Johann Abricht [i.e. Jonathan Birch |
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| VIII. | EMBLEM VIII. |
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 | Divine emblems |  |
53
EMBLEM VIII.
You that walk in the light of your own fire; and
in the sparks that ye have kindled, ye shall lie down
in sorrow.
ISAIAH, chap. 50, v. 11.
[What dost thou there? Poor Boy, thou hast no chance]
I
What dost thou there? Poor Boy, thou hast no chance'Mongst practised gamblers fraught with foul deceit!
Thou might'st as well seek piety, perchance,
Or bashful virtue in the public street!
Thou can'st not hope to win, from such companionment!
Unfructive is thy science—and thy time's misspent.
II
Hast thou much gold to stake? they'll have it all,Maugre thy cunning—Two, so closely leagued
As Mammon, and his man—must work thy fall;
They are all eye, and touch,—whilst thou fatigued
With planning, hoping, watching—nod'st: anon
They make thee bankrupt—and thy reputation's gone.
54
III
Vain, foolish youth!—to think thy mite of senseCan cope with such—so consummate in wiles!—
Thy honest play, poor Boy! is poor pretence—
Those are but grins—that thou mistak'st for smiles!
Thou hast not half a chance!—t'escape unscath'd their paws
Is hopeless—as the captur'd mouse from feline claws.
IV
A dumbmy! verily they have in tow:Thou see'st not when they filch thee of the deal!—
Cut as thou wilt, an honour lies below,
But thou no knave canst on the board reveal!
Now they revoke! by thee unkenn'd: their spades come in,
And all thy hearts are lost: Fool! dost still think to win?
55
V
What! four by honours!—and thy score at six!Thy joyful look betides a certainty—
Thou art deceived—they'll win the game by tricks!
Despite thy honours, and thy chuckling eye.
Thou may'st as well attempt to guide the light of day,
As pit thy fancied science 'gainst their crafty play.
VI
Thou hast no chance!—thy winning is in flight!Break up—get home—thou'st rubbers lost enow!
How can'st thou in such folly take delight?
Marring thy forehead, with a wrinkled brow—
Unless thou dost repent, and change thy ways and friends;
Thy life will be thy death, and Hell thy journey ends!
56
Avoid disputations; for much evil has been done to Christ's Church by weak disputants—the Logicians of this world do use subtleties—and do oftentimes confound the faithful—yea, sometimes bring into captivity the disciple that doth trust his own strength—
Do not seek them out—and if the Children of the Devil would seek thee out—send them to your Doctors.
ANON.
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
JOB, chap. 30, v. 30.
But shame shall be the promotion of fools.
PROV., chap. 3, v. 35.
EPIG.
['Tis better keep at home, and ponder well—]
'Tis better keep at home, and ponder well—Than search out casuists, to controvert—
His idiosyncracy is great!—who thinks to quell
A flaming Play-house—with a penny squirt!
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