George Withers' Emblemes

:
v^FooIe, in Folly taketbPaine,
Although he labour flill in vaine^.
ILLVSTR. X I.
! Maflie Mil-ftone up a tedious Hill,
k
With mighty Labour, Sifyfhus doth roll
Which being rais'd-aloft, downe-tumbleth,fiiII,
To keepe imployed his afflicted Souk.
On him, this tedious Labour is impos'd •
And (though in vaine) it rauft be ftill aflayd :
But, fome, by no Neceflity inclos'd,
Vpon themfelves,fuch needlefle Taskes have Iayd„
Yea, knowing not (or caring not to know)
That they are worneand weary'd out in vaine,
They madly toyle to plunge themfelves in Woe ;
And, feeke uncertaine Eafi, in certaine Paine.
Such Fooles are they, who dreame they can acquire
A Minde-content, by Lab'rwgflMfor more :
For, Wealth encreafing, doth encreafe Deftre,
And makes Contentment letter then before.
Such Fooles are they, whofe Hopes doevaincly ftretch
To climbe by Titles, to a happy Height :
For, having gotten one Ambitious-Reach)
Another comes perpetually in fighr.
And, their ftupidity isnothing Icfle,
Who dreame that Flejh and Blood may rayfed be
Vp to the Mount of perfett-Holineffe
For (at our beft) corrupt and vile are we.
Yet, wc arc bound by Faith, with Love and Hope,
To roll the Stone of" Good-Endeai our, ftill,
As neere as may be, to Perfections top.
Though backc againe it tumble downe the /////.
So ;
What our Workes had never power to doc.
Cod's Grace, at laft, fliall freely bring us to.
C 2
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Book.x,
As
II