George Withers' Emblemes

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ThingsJo their beji perfection comet
Not all at once buU fome and fbme. I07
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iLLVSTR. XLV.
Beak, z
thou fhak vifit, in the Moneth of May,
A coftly Garden, in her beft atray (Bowers,
And>view the well-grown Trees, the wel-trimm'd
The Beds of Herbs, the knots of pleafant flowers,
With all the deckings, and the fine devices,
Perteyning to thofe earthly Paradifes,
Thoucanft not well fuppofe, one day, or two,
Did finifh all, which had beene, there, to doe.
Nor doft thou,when young Plants, or new-fowne Lands,
Doe tbirft for needfull Watrings, from thy hands,
By Flood-gates, let whole Ponds amongft them come - 3
But, them befprinkleft, rather, fome and fome
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eft, elfc, thou marre the Ftomes, or chill the Seed,
Or drowne the Saplings, which did moyfture need.
Let this experiment, which, to thy thought,
May by this Emblem, now perhaps, be brought,
Perfwade thec to confidcr, that, no actions,
Can come, but by degrees, to their perfections
And, reach thee, to allot, for every thing,
That Icifarely -proceeding, which may bring
The ripenelfe,and the fulncfle,thou cxpe&cft :
And, though thy Hopes, but flowly thou cffecleft,
Difcourage not thy fclfc •, fince, ofc they prove
Moft prolpcrous actions, which at leifure move.
By many drops, is made a mighty jhovore 5
And many minutei finifh up an boure
By little, and by little, we poflefle
Afiiiranceof the grcatcft Happinefe.
And, oft, by too much hifle, and, too much cofl,
G reat Wealth, g- cat Honours, and, great Hopes, are left.
Affli&ion,