George Withers' Emblemes

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True Knowledge is a conftant Friend,
Whofe FriendfJhip, never (ball have end. M-5
ILLVSTR. XI. Book, i
\Y viewing tbisfxt-Head, cnwrcath'd with Bayes,
(And, what the Motto round about iffayes)
Your Apprehenfion's eye, may partly fee
What conflant Femes, in true Kmwledgebe.
For, if right plac'd it be, it ever will
Continue in the fame condition, ftill :
And, though it make mens manners to bechang'd 5
Yet,never is it,from it felfe,eftrang'd :
Nor doth, nor can it, ceafe to be a Friend,
What Fate foever, (hall on us attend.
When Wealth is loft, or faileth to befteed us ;
Slice findes out honeft mcancs to cloath and fecde us.
In fane, and forraigne Lands, (hec will become,
As kindc, and as familiar, as at home }
And^trave/leth, without the coftly cumber,
Of Carriages, or Clokebagges full of Lumber.
No Place can from our prefence, her enclofe 5
Nor is (he frighted from us by our Foes.
No Pichbankes, of her Favours,can bereave us -
No Promijes, can woo her to deceive us.
la Touth, in Age, in Sickenejje, and in Grief e,
Shee bringeth Confolation and reliefe
And, is in all eftarcs, a blefling to us,
So conftant (and fo apt, all helpes to doe us)
That, he for whom, f uch Knowledge, God provideth,
Enjoycs a Friend, that alwaies firmeabideth.
Lord, I nmfricudieffe left j therefore, to me,
This Knowledge, and this Friend^ vouchfafe to bee:
For, thou that Wijdome art,(fromhcav'n defending)
t
Which, neither huh tt'.ginnin% t
change, x\ox ending.
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