George Withers' Emblemes

3*
AJudden Death, yeitb Shame, is due
Tohim,tbat,(yreares What is untrue.
ILLVSTR. XXXVITI.
Book, v
Hen th'Ancients made a folemne League or Fow 3
Their Cuftome was to ratifie it, thus ,-
Before their idoll God
y
they flew a Sow,
And fayd aloud ; So be it unto tu.
Implying, that, if orherwife they did
Then had been vow'd j or, if within their Brcft
A Fraudulent- Intention had beene hid,
They merited fuch Vfa^e, as that Beaji.
For, by the Swine that they had flaughtred fo,
(Which^ during Life, was he'pe full unto none)
Of Life deprived by a fudden blow,
And, then,caft out, that none might feed thereon ;
They, myftically did inferre • that, he
Who falfify'd that Oath which he had fworne,
Deferv'd, by Sudden-Death cut off to be y
j
And, as a Beaft uncleane, to lyeforlorne.
That Heatheniih Hieroglyphicke, doth implye
This Cbrifiian DocJrine
;
that , we fhould in Voms,
In Leagues, and Oatbcs, aflume no Liberty,
But, what fincereft Honejlj allowes.
Ry Swiite,thc b lbbling Stpbijlcrs are meant,
In Hieroglyphicall Signification ;
Which wee doe Sacrifice, when our intent
Is free from Falftbood^ and Equivocation.
And, this, let ev'ry Man endeavour for,
Who loves theBleffings, for juft men prepar'd -
Or, if the Sinne he doe not much abhorre,
At I raft, the Danger ler him wtll regard:
For, to purfuc him, Vengeance never leaves,
Thatfalfely Swearcs, or willingly Deceives.
Where