George Withers' Emblemes

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A Milchiefe, hardly can he done.
Where many-pow'rs are knit in one.
I
177
ILLVSTR. XLIH. Book.
3fcrve the Slnafeof Arrowes, figcir'd here
And, how the pow'r,and fury, of the Beare
(Though heeatterapc it) no device can finde
To breake oneJlender-jba ft, while they are joy rid:
Whereas, were they divided, ftrength but fmall,
Like rotten Kexes, would foone breake them all.
This Embtem, therefore, fitly doth imply
That Safeguard, which is fau^d in Vnity
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And, flieweSjthar, when Dif -union is begunne,
It breedeth dangers, where before were none.
The Pfalmift, numerous of firings, doth compare
To guivers, that with Shafts repIeniOYd are.
When Fnity hath knit them in her bands,
They prove like Arrowes in a Gyants hands.
And, though, for thefe, their Foes in way t have Iayd,
They (hill not be fupriz'd, nor madeafrayd.
Confiderthis, y
ree Children ofone Sire,
'Twixt whom, is kindled fome contentious/^,
And, reconciled be, left you, at length,
Confume away the marrow of yourJirength •
Or, by dividing,of your joyned-fow'r,
Make way forthofc, who ftudic to devouie.
Yea, let us all confidcr, as we oughr,
What Lejjon, by this Emblem, we arc taught.
For, wee arc Brethren all 5
and (by a Blond
More precious, then our nat'rall Brother -hood)
Not knit, alone, but, mingled, as it were,
Into a League . which is, by much, more dcarc,
And, much more dangerous, to be undone,
Then all the Bunds, that can be thought upon.
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