_M_ 48

A man at Armes, thou wouldst be thought, And, hast the Crowne of Honour sought; But, thou hast much mistooke the wayes, Which tend to well-deserved praise. How, Honour, therefore, may be got, Thou art informed by thy Lot; And, with what Foes, and, for what end, Thou shouldst be ready to contend.

See, Emb. XLVIII.

49

Perhaps, thou mayst be one of those, Who doth God’s holy Church oppose; For, over many in these dayes, Disturbe her Peace, and sleight her Praise: That her esteeme, therefore may bee Increased, or preserv’d, by thee, Thine Emblem, now, to thee, will show, To what perfection she will grow.

See, Emb. XLIX.

50

Thou safety lov’st, and wouldst have Armes, Thy person to secure from harmes: But, most of those thou hast prepar’d, Are but a weake uncertaine Guard, And, if thou take not greater heed, May faile thy trust, in time of need. Thine Emblem, therfore, hath exprest, What Armes, for thy defence are best.

See, Emb. L.

51

Of Planetary-Calculations, Of Superstitious-Observations, Of Lots, and Dreames, and Accidents, Which have but casuall events, Thou art so fond; and, unto such, Thou dost adhere, and trust so much, That, it succeedeth very well, No Emblem, now, to thee befell: Lest, these, which onely Counsells bee, Might seeme firme Destinies to thee.

52

He that by drawing, here, his Lot, Some caveat or advice hath got, Did, peradventure, need alone That Caution, which he lighted on: But, unto thee, so needfull are All Warnings, and, all Counsells here, That, Fortune will not one bestow, Lest, thou may’st thinke thou need’st no moe.

53

You, may be glad, you drew not that, Which, in your thought, you guessed at; For, so it points out that condition, Whereof you give a great suspicion, That, had it such an Emblem nam’d, As fits you right, you had beene sham’d. Since, then, your fault is unreveal’d, Amend, and keep it still conceal’d.

54

The Muses Oracle is dumbe, Because to tempt them you are come; For, in your heart, you much despise, To follow that, which they advise: Their admonitions, you doe jeere, And, scorne to helpe your Wisedome, here. The Muses, therefore, leave you, still, To be as foolish, as you will.

5

It would, perhaps, have made thee proud, If, now, thy Lot had beene allow’d To let an Emblem shadow forth What is conceived of thy worth. Or, if thy Vertues were descry’d, Perchance, thou wouldst be more envy’d Then praysed, when they are exprest; A Blanke for thee, was therefore best.

6

No Emblem, to this Lot, replyes; Minde, therefore, well (I thee advise) What from the Preacher’s voice thou hear’st, When in the Church, thou next appear’st: Yea, there indeavour thou, to seeke Thy Lot of Counsell, ev’ry weeke. For, at all seasons, there will bee Such Prophecies, concerning thee, That, if of those, thou takest heed, These Emblems, thou shalt never need.