George Withers' Emblemes

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Good Fortune will Vtth bim abide ,
That bath true Venue,for bis guides. 139
ILLVSTR. V.
mk.i
jHc CryfBon, is the figure of a creature,
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Not found within the Catalogues of Nature
But, by thofc Wits created, who, to fhew
Intermit things, rv/« nail Figures drew
The Shape, in which this Fttfion they expreft,
Was borrow'd from a Fwle, and, from a Beaft 5
Importing (when their parts were thus combin'd)
The Vermes, both of B»dy, and of mindt
And, Men are fayd on Srjfbens backes to ride,
When thofe mixt Verms, them have dignify'd.
The Stone (this Brute fupporting) may expreflc
The firme abiding, and the folidnefle
Of all true Vermes! That, long-winged BaB,
Which doth appeare faft-linked therewithal!,
The gifts of changing Fortune, doe implye :
And, all thofe things together, fignifie,
That, when by fuch-like Vermes Men are guided,
Good Fortune cannot be from them divided.
If this be true (as true I this believe,)
Why fhould wee murmure, why repine, or grieve,
As if our Studies, or our honeft paines,
Deprived were of fome defcrved gaines i
Why fhould wc thinkethe world hath done us wrong
Becaufe wee are not rcgifter'd among
Thofe thriving men, who purfc up evr'y day,
For twelve houres labour more then twelve months fay ?
If wee our p sines rewarded cannot fee,
Wee count our Merits greater then they be.
Bur it we bide comenr, our worth is more }
And rich we arc, though others think us poore.
When