George Withers' Emblemes

25*
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uliketheyritker>dHay,
AndyJo it firings, and fades away.
His infant, and this little Truffe of Hay,
When they are moralized, fecme ro lay,
8* Thar, Flifi js but a tuft of Morning G^/c,
Both greene,and with- r'd, ere the day-hght palTc.
And, fuch we truly finde ir • for, behold,
AfToone as Man is borne, hce waxeth old,
In GriefcSjin Sorrowcs,orNccc(s;tiesj
And, withers ev'ry houre, untiil hee dyes :
Now, flourifhing, as Graffe, when it is gro-vne,
Straight perifhing, as Gta(Je, when it is mowne.
If, wee with other things, mans Age cemr- are,
His Ltfe is bur a Day ( For, equall'd are
His 7tares with Hourcs: His Months, with Minutes bee
Fir parallels j and, ev'ry hreatning,wee
May tearme a Day ) yet, fame, ev'n at the Night
Of that fliorrD^, are dead, and witherd qui;e.
Before rhe ^Morning of our lives bee done,
The Flcjh oft fades: Somerime,itgrowesrill Nvtrsc:
But, there's no mortall FItfh, ihar will abide
Vnparched longer, than till Evetnng-t.de.
For, in it felfe,r alwayes carries rhar,
W hich helpeth fo, it felfe ro ruinate j
That,though it feele, nor fiorme, nor fcorchiflgjfaaw,
An inbred Canker, will confume the fame.
Considering well, and well rcmembring this,
Account the Fhjh no better than it is :
Wronp not thine everlafting Settle, to cherifh
A GearJ, which in a moments time will penfh.
Give it rhe tendance, fit for fading Crops ȳ
But, for Hay barvcH, Me not better hopes.
Make