George Withers' Emblemes

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He that delights to Plane and Set,
Makes After-Ages in bis Debt.
ILLVSTR. XXXV
(Hen I behold the Havockc and the Spoyle,
'
Which (ev'a within the compare of my Dayes)
Is made through every quarter of this lie,
In Woods and Groves (which were this Kingdomes praife)
And, when I minde with how much greedinefie,
We feeke the prefent Gaine, in every thing •
Not caring (fo our Lufi we may poifefTe)
What Dammageto Pofierity we bring:
They doe, me-thinkes, as if they did forefee,
That, fome ofthofe, whom they have caufcto hate,
Should come in Future-times, their Hf ires to be:
Or clfe, why mould they fuch things perpetrate i
For, if they thinke theit Children (hall fuccccd;
Or, can believe, that they begot their Heires ;
They could not, furely, doefo foule a Deed,
As to deface the Land, that mould be theirs.
What our Forefathers planted, we deftroy
Nay, all Mens labours, living heretofore,
And all ourownc, we lavifhly imploy
Tofcrve our prefent Luffs ;
and, for no more.
But, let thefe carclefle Wafers learnc to know.
That, as "ame- Spoyle is open Injury ;
So, Planting is a £>«£/, they truely owe,
And ought to pay to theh Po(ferity.
Selfe love, for none, bur for it felfc, doth care j
And, oncly, for the prefent, takcth paine
?>\x\., Chanty for others doth prepare-,
And, joyes in that, which Fv.ture-7.7n: .lull ^aine.
If, After- Agts may my Labours blcfTc ;
I care not, w^, how Lulel pofleiTe.
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