George Withers' Emblemes

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Tbeypajfe through hm»? ftormes,a»^ ftreights,
Who rife to anyghriout heights. *«
ILLVSTR. XXXV
BtoT^
His Tree, which here doth largely feemc to grow,
(And fpreads afove, though ftreightned in below)
'Through adverfe Winds, and many a Winters bUft,
Hath gain'd a faire proportion at the laft 5
And, from a iowly Jhrub , is growneto bee
A well-efteemed, and a goodly Trse.
Thus, hath it chanced unto many a man
And, he that firft in mifery began,
(So poore and meane, that very few or none
Havejudg'dhimtobc worth the looking on)
Ev'n he, through (cornes,through wrongs, and povertic,
Harh crept, and fcrew'd, and rais'd himfclfe fo high,
Thar, he hath placed been among the prime,
Of thofe, who feem'd the Wortbtes of the time j
Yea,oveitopt and aw'd,the beft of thofe,
Who fought to curbe him, when he firft arofe.
This, I have fcene ;
And, as wee feldome find
A 7>«grow faire, that cannot breoke the Wind,
Or, muft behous'd at Winter; or, on whom
The Gardners pruning knife, did never come:
So, I have rarfly knowne thofe men to rife
To any good, or noble qualities
Who feelc not, firft fomc bardjhip, or fome frrme,
To prune, to difcipline, and to rcforme
Their wits and manners. For , profptritie,
Eafc, plentie, and too large a libertie,
Doth often blaft them * and,fo!fltimc bereave them,
Of what their Predeceffors worrh's,did leave thern.
Ler,thereforc,no man, fcare when thjjs.hf knowes,
Although in tempefi, and through (ireights he goes,
Kka
God,