George Withers' Emblemes

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Eyen as the Smoke doth pajfe affray ;
Soy/baO aS Worldly-porapc decay.
ILLVSTR. XXXVI.
Book.
better Arguments, then yet I fee,
muft perceive ;
and, better caufes, why,
To thofc gay things, I rtiould addicted bee,
To which, the Vulgar their Affecliens tyc.
I have confider'd,S«//W7, Mtters,Crownes,
Wiih each appurtenance to them belonging
My heart , hath fearch'd their Glories, and Renmnts ;
And, all the plcafant things about them thronging :
My Souk, hath truely weigh'd, and, tooice the meafure,
Of "Riches (which the moft have fo defircd)
I have diftill'd the Quintcflence of Pleafure,
And, feenethofe Objefts,that are moft admired.
I, likewife feeleall Papons ,and AffeQions,
That helpe to cheat the Reafin, and pcrfwade
Thatthofe poore Vanities , have fome perfections,
Whereby their Owners, happy might be made.
Yet, when that I have rouz'd my Fndsrfttnding,
Andclcans'd my Heart from fome ofthat Corruption,
Which hinders in me Reajom free commanding,
And, (hewer, things, without vailcs, or interruption j
Then, they, me thinkes, as fiuitlcfle doe appears,
As Rubbles (wherewithall young-children play)
Or, as the Smoke, which, in our Emblem, here,
Now, nukes a fhow, and, ftraight,confumes away.
Re fleas'd, Oh God, my value may befucb
Ofevery Oiitward-bletfing, here below,
That, I may neither love them overmuch,
Nor underp rife the Gift*, thou (halt be/low:
Bur, know the ufe, or all thefe fading Smokes
And, be refreftff, by that, which others chokes.
Death