George Withers' Emblemes

The Man that hath true Wifdome gou
Qontinues firmc, and wavers nou.
[Till fixt,and with triumphant Laurellciovm'd,
Istrueft Wifdome • whom,exprefled thus,
Among the old Imprest's, we have found ;
And, much, this Emblem hath inftru&ed us.
For, hence we learne • thatJVtfdome doth not flow
From thofe unconftant men, whom ev'ry il*ft,
Or fmall Oecafion, turneth to and fro ;
But, from a Settled- bead that ftandeth/*/?.
Wno'evcr (houldcrs,him, he gives no place •
What Storme foe*re, his Times or Fortunes, breath,
He neither hides his Brew, nor turnes his Fate •
But, keepes his Lookes undaonted, ev'n in tftmA
The Ldureat bead, upon the Pillar fet,
Thus fignifies ; And that B*j-tvre*tb doth fhow
That conftant Wifdome will theconqueft get,
When giddy Politic prevailes not fo.
If, therefore, thoudcfireft to be taught,
Propofc good Ends with honeft Manes thereto,
And therein Conftant be, tillthon haft brought
To pcrfed tnd, that Worke,thou haft to dee.
Let neither flatt'ring Pleafurcs, nor Difgrace,
Nor f< offing Cenfures, nor the cunning Sleights
Of glazing Sycophants, divert that Race
To which, a harmelefte Prttdenct, thee invites.
Though others plot, confpire, and undermine,
K epc thou a plaine right Path • and let their Cot/fa
For no advantage, make thee change from thine,
Although it (for the prefent) fecmes theworfe.
He, thus rhat workes, puts Politic to Schoolc,
And makes the Machavilian prove a foolc.