A collection of emblemes, ancient and moderne quickened vvith metricall illustrations, both morall and divine: and disposed into lotteries, that instruction, and good counsell, may bee furthered by an honest and pleasant recreation. By George VVither. The first booke.

Hee, that on Earthly-things, doth trust,Dependeth, upon Smoake, and Dust.

[illustration]

HVMANA FVMVS

ILLVSTR. XXIII. Book. 2

LOrd! what a coyle is here! and what a puther, To save and get? to scratch and scrape together The Rubbish of the world? and, to acquire Those vanities, which Fancie doth desire? What Violence is used, and what Cunning? What nightly Watchings, and what daily Running? What sorrowes felt? what difficulties entred? What losses hazarded? what perills ventred? And, still, how sottishly, doe wee persever (By all the power, and meanes wee can endeaver) To wheele our selves, in a perpetuall Round, In quest of that, which never will be found? In Objects, here on Earth, we seeke to finde That perfect sollidnesse, which is confinde, To things in Heaven, though every day we see, What emptinesse, and faylings, in them be. To teach us better; this, our Emblem, here, Assayes to make terrestriall things appeare The same they be, (both to our eares and eyes) That, wee may rightly their Condition prize. The best, which of earths best things, wee can say, Is this; that they are Grasse, and will be Hay. The rest, may be resembled to the Smoke, (Which doth but either blind the sight, or choke) Or else, to that uncleanly Mushrum-ball, Which, in some Countries, wee a Puff-soyst call; Whose out-side, is a nastie rotten skin, Containing durt, or smoking-dust, within. This is my mind; if wrong you thinke I've done them, Be Fooles; and, at your perils, dote upon them.