George Withers' Emblemes

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The belh good-turnes that Foolcs can doe ut,
Trooipe difadvantages unto m.
ILLVSTR
Toole , fent forth to fetch the GoJUngs home,
When they unto a Rivers brinck werecome,
( Through which their paiTage lay) conceiv'd a feare
His Dames beft Brtod, might have been drowned therej
Which, toavoyd, hee thus did (hew his wit,
And his good n2ture, in preventing it.
Hee,underneath his girdle, thtufls their heads,
And, then the Coxcombc through the water wades.
Here Iearne,that when a Foole his helpe intends,
It rather doth a mifchiefe,then befriends
And,thinke,if there be danger in his love,
How harmef ull his Malicioufnejfe may prove :
For, from his kindtnejje, though no profittifc
To doc thee fpighr, his Malice may fuffife.
I could nor from a Prince befeech a boonc
By fuing to his Icfler or Buffoone
Nor, any Fooles vainc humor, footh or ferve,
To get my bread, though I were like to ftarve.
For, to be pore, I mould not blum fo much,
As ifa Foole fhould raife me to be rich.
Lord, though of fuch a kindc my faults may be,
Thar (harpc Ajjlittion ftill mull: tutor mee,
(And give me due Correction in her Schoolcs)
Yet, oh prefcrve me from the fcorne of Fooles.
Thofe wicked Ftoles, that in their hearts have fed ,
There is no God ;
and, rather give me Bread
By Ravens, Lo r D,or in a Lions Den,
Then by the Favours of fuch foolifh men:
Left, if their dunties I fh >uld fwallow downe,
Their fmile might morcundoe, mc,thcn their fntme.
H h Through
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