George Withers' Emblemes

;
lAfoye thy Knowledge, doe not rife.
But, with Sobriecie,be wife, *-7
ILLVSTR. XIII.
book.i
Xalt thou not thjjelfe, though, plac'd thou be,
Vpon the topp of that old Olive-tree,
From whence the nat'tall branches priin'd have bi •,
Thar,thou,the better ,raightft be grafted in.
Be not fo over-wife, as to pi efume
The GArd'ncr^ for thy goodnelTe, did affume
Thy fmall CrabOlive,to infert it, there,
Where, once, the (weeteft -berries, growing were :
Nor let thy Pride thofe few old-boughes contemne,
Which,yet,remaine upon their ancient Stemme 5
Bccaufe, thy new-incorporated Sprayes y
Doe more enjoy the S times reffefhing rales':
But, humbled rather, and, more awfull bee
Left, bee that cut offthem, doe brcakc downe thee.
*
Be wife, in what may to thy good, belong $
But, feeke not Knowledge, to thy neighbours wrong:
Be thankefull for the Grace thou haft rcceiv'd,
But ;
judge not thofe, who feeme thereof bercav'd 3
-
Nor into thofe forbidden fecrets peepe,
Which God- Almighty, to himfelfe doth kecpe.
Remember what our Father Adam found,
When he for Knowledge, fought beyond his bound.
For, doubtlefTc, ever iince, both good and ///
Are left with Knowledge, intermingled flilj;
And, ([[ wc be not humble, meeke, and waric)
We are in daily danger,to mifcary.
Large,proves the fruit which on the Earth doth lie ;
Windts, breake t lie twigge , that's grafted over high j
And, he that will, beyond his bounds, be wife,
Becomes a very Foole, before he dies.
__„ Xj Whtn