_M_ 31

The time hath beene, that of the Rod, Thou wert more fearefull, then of God; But, now unlesse thou prudent grow, More cause thou hast to feare a shrowe; For, from the Rod, now thou art free, A Woman, shall thy torment be. At her, yet doe not thou repine, For, all the fault is onely thine.

See, Emb. XXXI.

32

It seemes, thy Time thou dost mispend: To warne thee, therefore of thine end; To shew, how short thy Life will be; And, with what speed it flyes from thee; This Lot was drawne: and, may advize, That, thou thy time shouldst better prize. Which, if accordingly thou doe, This, will be sport, and profit too.

See, Emb. XXXII.

33

It may be, thou art one of those, Who, dost not all aright suppose, Of Gods Decrees; or, of the state Of an inevitable Fate. That, therefore, so thou maist beleeve, (And, of these Mysteries conceive) As thou art bound; this Lot befell. Peruse, and minde thine Embleme well.

See, Emb. XXXIII.

34

Thou, at thy Fortune, hast repin’d, And, seem’st imprisond in thy minde, Because thou art not straight releast From those things which have thee opprest. To thee, a Lot is therefore sent, To qualifie thy discontent, By shewing, that thy present Fate Preserves thee, from a worse estate.

See, Emb. XXXIV.

35

Thy Vertues and thy Worth are such, That, many doe envie thee much; And, they that hate thee, take delight To doe thee mischiefe and despight. But, heart assume, and follow on The course that thou hast well begunne; For, all their spight shall doe no more, But, make thee greater then before.

See, Emb. XXXV.

36

In outward pompe, thy pleasures are; Thy hope of blisse is placed there; And, thou this folly wilt not leave, Till, all content, it shall bereave, Vnlesse, thou timely come to see How vaine, all earthly Glories bee. An Emblem, therefore, thou hast gain’d, By which, this Knowledge is obtain’d.

See, Emb. XXXVI.

37

It may be feared, that thou hast In publicke, or in private, past Some promise, or else made some vow, That’s broke, or else indanger’d, now. If so; this Lot is come, in time, To mend, or to prevent this crime; And, shew what should by them be done, 'Twixt whom Affection is begunne.

See, Emb. XXXVII.

38

Thou art reproved of deceipt, In faulty Measures, and in Weight; And, overbackward hast been knowne, In giving ev’ry one his owne. Thine Emblem, therefore, counsells thee, That, thou more just, hereafter be. For, that, which is by falsehood got, Makes likely showes, but prospers not.

See, Emb. XXXVII.

39

So highly, thou dost Vertue prize, That, thou dost Fortunes helpe despise, As if, where Vertues present are, Her favours alwayes needlesse were: But, sometimes there’s enough to doe, For Fortune, and for Vertue too, The pow’r of envious tongues to charme, And, keepe an Innocent from harme. Therfore, make both of these, thy friends; For, thereunto thine Emblem tends.

See, Emb. XXXIX.

40

Thou mayst be one of those, perchance, Who Schisme, and Heresies advance, Because they Times and Termes mistake; And, diff’rence know not how to make 'Twixt that, which temp’rall doth appeare, And, those things which eternall are. Thou, by thy Lot, art therefore warn’d, To search what should of these be learn’d.

See, Emb. XL.

41

Great workes to doe, thou hast a minde; But, pow’r thereto thou canst not finde. Sometime, thy pow’r is not unfit; But, then thou failest in thy wit. Such Vndertakings, therefore, chuse (If thou wilt not thy time abuse) As to thy pow’rs, and wits agree; And, let them both imployed bee. See, Emb. XLI.

42

When any Blessing thou hast gain’d, Thou mind’st not whence it was obtain’d; But, bear’st thy selfe, as if the same By thine owne pow’r, or merit, came: That, therefore, thou mayst better heed From whence, all Graces doe proceed, Thou, hast an Emblem, by this Lot, From which, good Cautions may be got.

See, Emb. XLII.

43

By this thy Lot, it should appeare, The Muses thy acquaintance are; Or, that thou art (at least) of those, Who, of their Steed ambitious growes. If thou hast wit, his Reynes to guide, Vpon his backe, mount up and ride; But, if thou finde thy selfe to weake, Forbeare him, lest thy necke he breake.

See, Emb. XLIII.

44

In many things, the worse thou art, By thy despayring, fainting heart; And, oft, thy labour, and thy cost, For want of hopefulnesse, is lost. This indiscretion to prevent, Thou, therefore, by thy Lot, art sent, The Plough-man’s hopefulnesse to see: Observe it; and, reformed bee.

See, Emb. XLIV.

45

As soone as e’re thy Seeds are sowne, Thou fruits expectest, fully growne. And, if they ripe not in a day, Thou, foolest all thy hopes away: That wiser, therefore, thou mayst grow, Thy Lot, an Emblem doth bestow, To teach, that workes both faire and great, By small-degrees, are made compleat.

See, Emb. XLV.

46

Thou hadst, or hast, or thou shalt have Much trouble, ere thou fill thy Grave; And, may’st, when thou expectest rest, With paine, or sorrowes, be opprest. But, be content, and waile not much: For, Poverty shall make thee rich. The paine will soone be overpast, And, thou shalt happy be at last.

See, Emb. XLVI.

47

Thy Fortune, be it good or bad, May, by thy wit, be better made; Yea, whatsoere mischances fall, By prudence, thou may’st helpe them all. That, hopefull, therfore, thou mayst bide, What change soever, shall betide, Thou, by thy Lot, informed art, What succours, Wisedome doth impart.

See, Emb. XLVII.