George Withers' Emblemes

^^
When Vice 4»rfVertue Touth JbaQ-wooe,
Tis kardtofajyVmch way 'twillgge^.
Illvstr. XXII. Book. i.
hopefull Friends at thrice fiveyeares and three,
Without a Guide (into the World alone)
To feeke ray Fortune, didadventure mee ;
And, many hazards, I alighted on.
Fit ft, Englands grearcft Rcndevenz, I fought,
Where Vi c e and Ve rtve at the hig heft fit;
And, thither, both a Minde and Bodie brought,
For neither of their Services unfit.
Both, woo'd my Touth : And, both perfvvaded fo,
That (like the Young mm in our Emblem here)
I flood.'and cry'd, Ah \ which way frail l
goe ?
To me fo pleating both their Offers were.
Vi ce, Pleafuresbeft Comentmentspromift mee,
And what the wanton Flefh defires to have :
Quoth Vertve, ImtlWtJdomegive to thee,
And theft brave things , which noblat Mtndes doc crave*
Serve me faid Vice, and thoufraltjoone acqmre
Allthofe Atchievements which my Service brine ,
Serve me (aid VeRtve, and lie raife tbee higher,
Then Vices can, and teach thee better things.
Whil'rt thus they ftrove to gair.e me, I e fpyde
Grim Death attending Vi c e . and, that her Face
Was hu a painted F/^rd, which did hide
The foul'if Deformity that ever was.
Lo R d ,
grant megrace for evermore to view
Her Fglme(Je : And, that I viewing it,
Her Falsehoods and'allurements may efchew
.
And onfdire Ve r t v e my Affeclior. fet*.
Her Be if/ties contemplate, her Love embrace,
And by htrfafe Direction, rmne my Race.
•
ipiac