Emblemes by Fra: Quarles

III. PRO. XIV.XIII. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull, and the end of that mirth is heavinesse.

1

ALas fond Child, How are thy thoughts beguil'd, To hope for Hony from a nest of Wasps? Thou maist as well Go seek for ease in Hell, Or sprightly Nectar from the mouthes of Asps.

2

The world's a Hive, From whence thou canst derive No good, but what thy soules vexation brings: Put case thou meet Some peti-peti sweet, Each drop is guarded with a thousand stings.

3

Why dost thou make These murm'ring Troupes forsake, The safe Protection of their waxen Homes? This Hive containes No sweet that's worth thy paines; There's nothing here, alas, but empty Combes.

4

For trash and Toyes, And griefe ingendring Joyes What torment seemes too sharpe for flesh and blood! What bitter Pills, Compos'd of reall Ills, Man swallowes downe, to purchase one false Good!

5

The dainties here, Are least what they appeare; Though sweet in hopes, yet in fruition, sowre: The fruit that's yellow, Is found not alwayes mellow, The fairest Tulip's not the sweetest flowre.

6

Fond youth, give ore, And vexe thy soule no more, In seeking, what were better farre unfound; Alas thy gaines Are onely present paines To gather Scorpions for a future wound.

7

What's earth? or in it. That longer than a minit Can lend a free delight, that can endure? O who would droyle, Or delve in such a soyle, Where gaine's uncertaine, and the paine is sure?

S. AUGUST.

Sweetnesse in temporall matters is deceitfull; It is a labour and a perpetuall feare; it is a dangerous pleasure, whose beginning is without providence, and whose end is not without repentance.

HUGO.

Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her taile.

EPIG. 3.

What, Cupid, Are hy shafts already made? And seeking Hone, to set up thy Trade? True Embleme of hy sweets! Thy Bees do bring Hony, in their mout••es, but in their tailes, a sting.