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University of Virginia Library

Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638)

[in the critical edition by John Horden]

Quarles, Francis (1592-1644)

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[By Fathers, backt; by Holy Writ, led on]

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1.

THE FIRST BOOKE

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I.

I. JAMES I. XIV.

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Every man is tempted, when he is drawne away by his own lust, and enticed.

S. CHRYS. sup. Matth.

S. BERN. in Ser.

1.

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II.

II. JAMES I. XV.

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Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

S. AUGUST. lib. 1 de lib. arbit.

2.

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III.

III. PROVERBS XIV. XIII.

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Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull, and the end of that mirth is heavinesse.

3.

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IV.

IV. PSALMS LXII. IX.

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To be laid in the ballance, it is altogether lighter than vanitie.

S. AUGUST. lib. Confess.

4.

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V.

V. I CORINTHIANS VII. XXXI.

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The fashion of this world passeth away.

5.

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VI.

VI. ECCLESIASTES II. XVII.

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All is vanitie and vexation of spirit.

6.

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VII.

VII. I PETER V. VIII.

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Be sober; Be vigilant, because your adversary the Divell, as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour.

7.

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VIII.

VIII. LUKE VI. XXV.

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Woe be to you the laugh now, for ye shall mourne and weepe.

8.

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IX.

IX. I JOHN II. XVII.

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The world passeth away, and all the lusts thereof.

S. GREG. in ho.

9.

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X.

X. JOHN VIII. XLIV.

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Yee are of your father the Devill, and the lusts of your father yee will doe.

S. BERNARD. lib. de Consid.

S. HIEROME in Ep.

10.

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XI.

XI. EPHESIANS II. II.

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Yee walked according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the Aire.

ISIODOR. lib.1. De summo bono.

CYPRIAN. in ep.

11.

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XII.

XII. ISAIAH LXVI. XI.

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Yee may suck, but not be satisfied with the brest of her Consolation.

S. GREG. Hom: 3. secund. parte Ezech.

HUGO. de Anima.

12.

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XIII.

XIII. JOHN III. XIX.

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Men love darkness rather then light, because their deeds are evil.

S. AUGUST. sup: Psal. 64.

S. AUGUST. lib. 3. Confess.

13.

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XIV.

XIV. PSALMS XIII. III.

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Lighten mine eyes, O Lord, lest I sleepe the sleepe of death.

S. AUGUST. in Joh. ser. 19.

ALANUS de conq. nat.

14.

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XV.

XV. REVELATION XII. XII.

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The Devill is come unto you, having great wrath, because hee knoweth that hee hath but a short time.

PETR. RAV. in Math.

15.

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2.

THE SECOND BOOKE.

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I.

I. ISAIAH L. XI

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You that walke in the light of your owne fire, and in the sparkes that yee have kindled, yee shall lie downe in sorrow.

S. GREG. Mor. 25.

1.

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II.

II. ECCLESIASTES IV. VIII.

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There is no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches.

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III.

III. JOB XVIII. VIII.

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He is cast into a net by his owne feet, and walketh upon a snare.

S. BERN. in Ser.

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IV.

IV. HOSEA CXIII. III.

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They shalbe as the chaffe that is driven with a whirlewind out of the floore, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

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V.

V. PROVERBS XXIII. V.

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Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches make themselves wings, they flie away as an Eagle.

S. AUGUST. lib. Confess.

5.

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VI.

VI. JOB XV. XXXI.

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Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity, for vanity shalbe his recompence.

HUGO lib.3 de anima.

6.

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VII.

VII. DEUTERONOMY XXXX. XIX.

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I have set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that thou and thy seed may live.

S. AUGUST. lib. 1 de doct. Christi

7.

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VIII.

VIII. PHILIPPIANS III. XIX.

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They minde earthly things, but our conversation is in heaven.

8.

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IX.

IX. ISAIAH X. III.

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What will ye do in the day of your visitation? to whom will ye flie for help, and where will ye leave your glory?

9.

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X.

X. NAHUM II. X.

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Shee is emptie, and void, and waste.

S. CHRYS. in Ep. ad Heb.

HUGO lib. de Vanit. mundi.

10.

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XI.

XI. MATTHEW VII. XIV.

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Narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

S. HIEROM. in Ep.

S. GREG. lib.8. Mor.

11.

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XII.

XII. GALATIANS VI. XIV.

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God forbid that I should glory, save in the Crosse.

S. BERN. in Ser. de resur.

12.

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XIII.

XIII. PROVERBS XXVI. XI.

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As a Dog returneth to his vomit, so a foole returneth to his follie.

S. AUGUST. lib. de util. agen. paen.

S. AUGUST. in Soliloq.

13.

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XIV.

XIV. PROVERBS XXIV. XVI.

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A just man falleth seven times and riseth up againe; but the wicked shall fall into mischiefe.

S. AMBROS. in Serm. ad vincula.

S. CHRYS. in Ep. ad Heliod. monach.

14.

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XV.

XV. JEREMIAH XXXII. XL.

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I will put my feare in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

S. AUGUST. de spir. & anima.

15.

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3.

THE THIRD BOOKE.

The Entertainment.

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I.

I. ISIAH XXIX. VI.

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My soule hath desired thee in the night.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. cap. 33.

1.

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II.

II. PSALMS LXIX. III.

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O Lord, thou knowest my foolishnesse, and my sinnes are not hid from thee.

S. CHRYS. Hom. 4. Ioan.

S. GREG. in mo.

2.

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III.

III. PSALMS VI. II.

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Have mercy, Lord, upon me, for I am weak; O Lord heale me, for my bones are vexed.

S. AUGUST. lib. 10. Confess.

S. GREG. in Pastoral.

3.

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IV.

IV. PSALMS XXV. XVIII.

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Looke upon my affliction and my paine, and forgive all my sinnes.

S. BERN. Hom. 81 in Cant.

4.

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V.

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Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay, and wilt thou bring me to dust againe?

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. 32.

5.

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VI.

VI. JOB VII. XX.

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Lord I have sinned: What shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men; why hast thou set me as a marke against thee?

S. BERN. Ser. 21 in Cant.

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VII.

VII. JOB XIII. XXIV.

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Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thy enemie?

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap.1.

ANSELM. Med. Cap. 5.

7.

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VIII.

VIII. JEREMIAH IX. I.

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O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountaine of teares, that I might weepe day and night.

S. AMBROS. in Psal. 118.

NAZIANZ. Orat. 3.

S. HIEROM. in Esaiam.

8.

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IX.

IX. PSALMS XVIII. V.

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The sorrowes of hell compassed me about, and the snares of death prevented me.

S. AMBROS. Lib. 4 in Cap. 4 Lucae.

S. AMBROS. de bono mortis.

9.

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X.

X. PSALMS CXLIII. II.

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Enter not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living bee justified.

10.

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XI.

XI. PSALMS LXIX. XV.

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Let not the water-flood over-flow me, neither let the deepes swallow me up.

S. AMBROS. Apol. post. pro David. Cap. 3.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 35.

11.

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XII.

XII. JOB XIV. XIII.

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O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, and thou wouldst keepe me secret untill thy wrath be past.

S. AUGUST. in Psal. 30.

12.

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XIII.

XIII. JOB X. XX.

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Are not my dayes few? Cease then, and let me alone, that I may bewaile my selfe a little.

S. AUGUST. lib. 7 de Civit. Dei cap. 10.

S. GREG. lib. 9 mor cap. 44 in Cap. 10 Job.

13.

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XIV.

XIV. DEUTERONOMY XXXII. XXIX.

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O that men were wise, and that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.

BONAVENT. de contemptu seculi.

14.

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XV.

XV. PSALMS XXX. X.

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My life is spent with griefe, and my yeares with sighing.

INOCENT. de vilitate condit. humanae.

15.

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4.

THE FOURTH BOOKE.

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I.

I. ROMANS VII. XXIII.

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I see another Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivitie to the Law of sin.

S. BERN. Med. 9.

S. AUGUST. de Ver. Apost.

1.

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II.

II. PSALMS CXIX. V.

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O that my wayes were directed to keepe thy statutes.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 4.

2.

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III.

III. PSALMS XVII. V.

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Stay my steps in thy paths, that my feet do not slide.

S. AUGUST. Ser. 15 de Verb. Apost.

3.

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IV.

IV. PSALMS CXIX. CXX.

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My flesh trembleth for feare of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements.

S. BERN. Ser. 54 in Cant.

S. AUGUST. super Psalm.

4.

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V.

V. PSALMS CXIX. XXXVII.

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Turne away mine eyes from regarding vanitie.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 4.

S. CHRYS. sup. Matth. 19

5.

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VI.

VI. ESTHER VII. III.

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If I have found favour in thy sight, and if it please the King, let my life be given me at my petition.

S. AUGUST. in Ep.

S. AUGUST. sup. Ioan.

6.

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VII.

VII. CANTICLES VII. XI.

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Come my beloved, let us goe forth into the fields, and let us remaine in the villages.

S. BERN. in Ep.

7.

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VIII.

VIII. CANTICLES I. III.

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Draw me; we will follow after thee by the savour of thy Oyntment.

S. BERN. Serm. 21 in Cant.

8.

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IX.

IX. CANTICLES VIII. I.

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O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the brest of my mother, I would find thee without, and I would kisse thee.

BONAVENT. Soliloq. Cap. 1.

9.

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X.

X. CANTICLES XXX. I.

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In my bed, by night, I sought him, that my soule loved: I sought him, but I found him not.

ANSELM. in Protolog. Cap. 1.

10.

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XI.

XI. CANTICLES III. II.

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I will rise, and go about the City, and will seeke him that my soule loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.

S. AMBROS. Lib. 3 de Virg.

S. HIEROM. Ep. 22 Eustoch.

11.

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XII.

XII. CANTICLES III. III.

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Have you seene him whom my soule loveth? When I had past a little from them, then I found him, I took hold on him, and left him not.

ORIG. Hom. 10 in divers.

BEDE in Cap. 3. Cant.

12.

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XIII.

XIII. PSALMS LXXII. XXVIII.

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It is good for me to draw neare to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 13.

S. BERN. Ser. 9 sup. beati qui habent, &c.

13.

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XIV.

XIV. CANTICLES II. III.

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I sate under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

GUILL. in Cap. 2 Cant.

S. AUGUST. Med. Cap. 37.

14.

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XV.

XV. PSALMS CXXXXVII. IV.

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How shall we sing a song of the Lord in a strange land?

S. AUGUST. Med. Cap. 33.

15.

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5.

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I.

I. CANTICLES V. VIII.

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I charge you, O daughter of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick of love.

S. AUGUST. Med. cap. 40.

GULIEL. in Cap. 5. Cant.

1.

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II.

II. CANTICLES II. V.

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Stay me with Flowers, and comfort me with Apples, for I am sicke with love.

GISTEN. in Cap. 2 Cant. Expos. 3.

S. BERN. Serm. 51 in Cant.

2.

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III.

III. CANTICLES II. XVI.

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My beloved is mine, and I am his; He feedeth among the Lillies.

S. AUGUST. Manu. Cap. 24.

3.

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IV.

IV. CANTICLES VII. X.

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I am my Beloveds, and his desire is towards me.

S. AUGUST. Med. Cap, 25.

4.

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V.

V. CANTICLES V. VI.

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My Soule melted whilst my Beloved spake.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 34.

BONAVENT. Stim. amoris Cap. 8.

5.

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VI.

VI. PSALMS LXXIII. XXV.

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Whom have I in heav'n but Thee? and what desire I on earth in respect of Thee?

BONAVENT. Cap. 1. Soliloq.

S. CHRYS. Hom. 5 in Ep. ad Rom.

6.

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VII.

VII. PSALMS CXX. V.

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Woe is to me! that I remaine in Meshech and dwell in Tents of Kedar.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 2.

7.

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VIII.

VIII. ROMANS VII. XXIV.

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O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

NAZIANZ. Orat. 16.

8.

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IX.

IX. PHILIPPIANS I. XXIII.

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I am in a streight betweene two, having a desire to be dissolv'd, and to be with Christ.

BONAVENT. Cap. 1. Soliloq.

9.

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X.

X. PSALMS CXLII. VII.

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Bring my soule out of prison, that I may praise thy Name.

ANSELM. in Protolog. Cap. 1.

10.

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XI.

XI. PSALMS XLII. I.

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As the Hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soule after thee O God.

CYRIL. lib. 5 in Joh. Cap. 10.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. 35.

11.

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XII.

XII. PSALMS XLII. II.

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When shall I come and appeare before God?

S. AUGUST. in Psal. 39

S. AUGUST. Med. Cap 37.

12.

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XIII.

XIII. PSALMS LV. VI.

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O that I had the wings of a Dove, for then I would flee away and be at rest.

S. AUGUST. in Psal. 138.

S. AUGUST. in Psal. 76.

13.

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XIV.

XIV. PSALMS LXXXIV. I.

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How amiable are thy Tabernacles O god of Hosts.

S. GREG. in Psal. 7 poenitent.

14.

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XV.

XV. CANTICLES VIII. XIV.

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Make haste my Beloved, and be like the Roe or the young Hart upon the Mountaines of Spices.

Author scalae Paradisi. Tom. 9. Aug. Cap. 8.

15.

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[Hieroglyphikes]

The minde of the Frontispeece.

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I.

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Behold I was shaped in Iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. PSALMS 51. 5.

1.

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II.

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And God said, Let there bee light; and there was light. GENESIS 1. 3.

2.

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III.

HIEROGLIPH III.

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The wind passeth over it and it is gone. PSALMS 103. 16.

3.

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IV.

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The whole need not the Physitian. MATTHEW 9, 12.

4.

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V.

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And hee will give his Angels charge over thee. PSALMS 91.

5.

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VI.

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To every thing there is an appointed time. ECCLESIASTES 3. 1.

6.

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VII.

HIEROGLIPH VII.

His light shall be dark, and his candle shall be put out. JOB 18. 6.

7.

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VIII.

HIEROGLIPH VIII.

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Let your light so shine, that men seeing your good workes may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. MATTHEW 5. 16.

8.

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IX.

He cometh forth like a Flower and is cut downe. JOB 14. 2.

9.

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X.

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His bones are full of the sinnes of his youth. JOB 20. 11.

10.

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XI.

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Rejoyce O young man, and let thy heart cheare thee, but know, &c. ECCLESIASTES 11. 9.

11.

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XII.

HIEROGLIPH XII.

As thy daies, so shall thy strength be. DEUTERONOMY 33. 25.

12.

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XIII.

HIEROGLIPH XIII.

Hee must encrease, but I must decrease. JOHN 3. 30.

13.

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XIV.

HIEROGLIPH XIV.

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Yet a lttle while is the light with you. JOHN 12. 35.

14.

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XV.

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The dayes of oure yeares are threescore yeares and ten. PSALMS 90. 10.

15.

EPIGRAM 15. To the Infant.

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Draw me; we will follow after thee by the savour of thy Oyntment.

Thus, like a lump of the corrupted Masse,
I lie secure; long lost, before I was:
And like a Block, beneath whose burthen lies
That undiscover'd Worme that never dies,
I have no will to rouze; I have no pow'r to rise.

Can stinking Lazarus compound, or strive
With deaths entangling Fetters, and revive?
Or can the water-buried Axe implore
A hand to raise it? or, it selfe, restore
And, from her sandy deepes, approach the dry-foot shore,

So hard's the task for sinfull flesh and Blood
To lend the smallest step to what is Good;
My God, I cannot move, the least degree;
Ah! If but onely those that active be
None should thy glory see, none should thy Glory see.

But if the Potter please t'informe the Clay;
Or some strong hand remove the Block away;
Their lowly fortunes soone are mounted higher,
That proves a vessell, which, before, was myre;
And this, being hewne, may serve for better use than fire.

And if that life-restoring voice command
Dead Laz'rus forth; or that great Prophets hand
Should charme the sullen waters, and begin
To beckon, or to dart a Stick but in,
Dead Laz'rus must revive, and th'Axe must float agin.

Lord, as I am, I have no pow'r at all
To heare thy voice, or Eccho to thy call;
The gloomy Clouds of mine owne Guilt benight me;
Thy glorious beames, nor dainty sweets invite me;
They neither can direct; nor these at all delight me.

See how my Sin-bemangled body lies,
Nor having pow'r, to will; nor will, to rise!
Shine home upon thy Creature, and inspire
My livelesse will with thy regen'rate fire;
The first degree to do, is onely to desire.

Give me the pow'r to will; the will, to doe;
O raise me up, and I will strive to go.
Draw me, O draw me with thy treble twist,
That have no pow'r but meerely to resist;
O lend me strength to do; and then command thy List.

My Soule's a Clock, whose wheeles (for want of use
And winding up, being subject to th'abuse
Of eating Rust) wants vigour to fulfill
Her twelve houres task, and show her makers skill;
But idly sleepes unmoov'd, and standeth vainly still.

Great God, it is thy work: and therefore, Good;
If thou be pleas'd to cleanse it with thy Blood;
And winde it up with thy soule-mooving kayes,
Her dusie wheeles shall serve thee all her dayes;
Her Hand shall point thy pow'r; her Hammer strike thy praise.

S. BERN. Serm. 21 in Cant.

Let us run: let us run, but in the savour of thy Oyntments, not in the confidence of our merits, nor in the greatnesse of our strength: we trust to run, but in the multitude of thy mercies, for though we run and are willing, it is not in him that wills, nor in him that runs, but in God that sheweth mercy: O let thy mercy returne, and we will run: Thou, like a Gyant, run'st by thy own power; We, unlesse thy oyntment breath upon us, cannot run.