Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical Expressed in Sculpture, and Applied to the several Ages, Occasions, and Conditions of the Life of Man. By a person of Quality |
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| XXXVII. | EMBLEM XXXVII. A friend at need, a friend indeed.
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 | Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical |  |
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EMBLEM XXXVII. A friend at need, a friend indeed.
To IOHN NORRIS Gent:
Thine owne friend, and thy fathers friend forsake not,
Proverbs 27. 10
A well-grown tree, which many years had stood,
And flourish'd fair as any in the Wood,
At length by age, or else by some mishap,
Becomes dead, dry, and wither'd, without sap.
And flourish'd fair as any in the Wood,
At length by age, or else by some mishap,
Becomes dead, dry, and wither'd, without sap.
Near to this tree a fruitful Vine doth spring,
Which it approaching, doth about it cling;
And still its branches further out doth spread
On every limb of this poor tree that's dead.
Which it approaching, doth about it cling;
And still its branches further out doth spread
On every limb of this poor tree that's dead.
Its uberant grapes and clusters it adorn,
As if they were of its own body born;
Which make it to spectators all appear,
As if it still both fair and fruitful were.
As if they were of its own body born;
Which make it to spectators all appear,
As if it still both fair and fruitful were.
To this dead tree we many may compare,
Who by Gods blessing, and industrious care,
Have thriven well; till sickness, fire, or trust,
Or some such ill, them into want have thrust.
Who by Gods blessing, and industrious care,
Have thriven well; till sickness, fire, or trust,
Or some such ill, them into want have thrust.
But then (like to this Vine) a friend stands by,
Who to 's effectual aid doth straight apply;
And thereby doth his wither'd state revive,
And him that was decaying, makes to thrive.
Who to 's effectual aid doth straight apply;
And thereby doth his wither'd state revive,
And him that was decaying, makes to thrive.
And as the Vine a generous juyce imparts,
Which makes th'afflicted to forget his smarts:
So friendship true, in season right apply'd,
Keeps him alive, who else for grief had dy'd.
Which makes th'afflicted to forget his smarts:
So friendship true, in season right apply'd,
Keeps him alive, who else for grief had dy'd.
| Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural and Historical | |