



Produced by Chris Curnow, Chris Jordan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net with
transcriptions from Stephen Rowland and Louise Hope









=Transcriber's notes:=

In the section "To The Reader" our author writes:

_There be, no doubt, some faults committed by the =Printer=, both
Literall and Materiall, and some Errors of the =Gravers= in the
=Figures=, (as in the =Tetragrammaton=; in the Figure of =Arîon=; and
in the =Proprieties= due to some other =Hieroglyphicks=); but, for the
most part, they are such, as =Common-Readers= will never perceive; and
I thinke, that they who are =Judicious= will so plainly finde them to
be no faults of mine; that, leaving them to be amended by those, to
whom they appertaine; and, =You=, to accept of these =Play-games= as
you please: I bid you =Farewell=._

Therefore all oddities and inconsistencies have been left unchanged.
They have been noted at the end of the transcription.

An addendum of transcriptions and translations of the mottoes engraved
around each emblem has been added to the final note as a convenience to
the reader.




A PREPOSITION to this FRONTISPIECE.


    This BOOKE contayning EMBLEMS, ’twas thought fit,
    A _Title-page_ should stand to usher it,
    That’s Emblematicall: And, for that end,
    Our AVTHOR, to the _Graver_ did commend
    A plaine Invention; that it might be wrought,
    According as his Fancie had forethought.
    Insteed thereof, the _Workeman_ brought to light,
    What, here, you see; therein, mistaking quite
    The true _Designe_: And, so (with paines, and cost)
    The first intended FRONTISPIECE, is lost.
      The AVTHOR, was as much displeas’d, as Hee
    In such Adventures, is inclin’d to bee;
    And, halfe resolv’d, to cast this PIECE aside,
    As nothing worth: but, having better ey’d
    Those _Errors_, and _Confusions_, which may, there,
    Blame-worthy (at the first aspect) appeare;
    Hee saw, they fitted many Fantasies
    Much better, then what _Reason_ can devise;
    And, that, the _Graver_ (by meere _Chance_) had hit
    On what, so much transcends the reach of _Wit_,
    As made it seeme, an Object of _Delight_,
    To looke on what, MISFORTVNE brought to light:
    And, here it stands, to try his _Wit_, who lists
    To pumpe the secrets, out of _Cabalists_.
      If any thinke this _Page_ will, now, declare
    The meaning of those _Figures_, which are there,
    They are deceiv’d. For, _Destinie_ denyes
    The utt’ring of such hidden _Mysteries_,
    In these respects: First, _This_ contayneth nought
    Which (in a proper sense) concerneth, ought,
    The _present-Age_: Moreover, tis ordain’d,
    That, none must know the _Secrecies_ contain’d
    Within this PIECE; but, they who are so wise
    To finde them out, by their owne _prudencies_;
    And, hee that can unriddle them, to us,
    Shall stiled be, the second OEDIPVS.
      Tis, likewise, thought expedient, now and then,
    To make some _Worke_, for those _All-knowing men_,
    (To exercise upon) who thinke they see
    The _secret-meanings_, of all things that bee.
      And, lastly, since we finde, that, some there are,
    Who best affect _Inuentions_, which appeare
    Beyond their understandings; _This_, we knew
    A _Representment_, worthy of their view;
      And, here, wee placed it, to be, to these,
      A FRONTISPIECE, in any sense they please.

[Illustration: EMBLEMES. _Illustrated by_ Geo: Wither.]




                                   A
                              COLLECTION
                                  OF
                               EMBLEMES,
                              ANCIENT AND
                               MODERNE:

                               Quickened
                  With METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both
               _Morall_ and _Divine_: And disposed into
                              LOTTERIES,

      That _Jnstruction_, and _Good Counsell_, may bee furthered
                by an Honest and Pleasant _Recreation_.

                          _By_ GEORGE WITHER.

                          _The First Booke._

[Illustration: Decoration]

                                LONDON,
             Printed by _A.M._ for _Richard Royston_, and
              are to be sold at his Shop in _Ivie_-Lane.
                               MDCXXXV.




_Recensui hoc Poëma, cui titulus est =(A Collection and Illustration
of Emblems Ancient and Moderne)= in quo nihil reperio, quò minus cum
utilitate imprimatur, ita tamen, ut si non intra septem menses proximè
sequentes Typis mandetur, hæc licentia sit omninò irrita._

Ex ædibus Lambithanis
  _Iul. 2. 1634._
                  GVIL. BRAY.




                                   A
                          WRIT OF PREVENTION
                  Concerning the AVTHORS _Dedication_
                of the foure following BOOKES, to those
          _Royall_, _Princely_, and _Illustrious_ PERSONAGES,
                       whose Names are mentioned
                           in this _Leafe_.

    I have not often us’d, with _Epigrames_,
    Or, with _Inscriptions_ unto many NAMES,
    To charge my _Bookes_: Nor, had I done it, now,
    If I, to pay the _Duties_ which I owe,
    Had other _meanes_; Or, any better Wayes
    To honour them, whose _Vertue_ merits praise.
      In _ARCHITECT_, it giveth good content,
    (And passeth for a praisefull _Ornament_)
    If, to adorne the _FORE-FRONTS_, _Builders_ reare
    The _Statues_ of their _Soveraigne-Princes_, there;
    And, trimme the _Outsides_, of the other SQVARES
    With _Portraitures_ of some Heroicke PEERES.
      If, therefore, I (the more to beautifie
    This _Portion_ of my MVSES _Gallerie_)
    Doe, here, presume to place, the _NAMES_ of those
    To whose _Deserts_, my LOVE remembrance owes,
    I hope ’twill none offend. For, most, who see
    Their worthy _mention_, in this BOOKE, to bee,
    Will thinke them honor’d: And, perhaps, it may
    (To their high praise) be found, another day,
    That, in these LEAVES their _Names_ wil stand unrac’d,
    When many fairer _STRVCTVRFS_, are defac’d.

    _In this =Hope=, I have placed on the FORE-FRONT (or before the
    =First Booke= of these EMBLEMS) a =Ioint-Inscription= to the
    KING and QVEENES most excellent MAIESTIE._

    _Upon the =Right-Side-Front= of this =Building= (or before
    the =Second Booke=) One =Inscription= to the most hopefull
    =Prince, =CHARLES=, Prince of =Wales=; And, another to his deere
    =Brother, =IAMES=, Duke of =Yorke=, =&c.=_

    _On the other =Side-Front=, (or before the =Third Booke=)
    One =Inscription= to the gratious Princesse, FRANCES
    Dutchesse-Dowager of RICHMOND and LENOX; And, another to her
    most noble Nephew, IAMES Duke of Lenox, &c._

    _On the =Fourth Front= of our =Square=, (Or before the =Fourth
    Booke=) One =Inscription= to the right Honourable PHILIP Earle
    of =Pembrooke= and =Montgomery=, &c. And another to the right
    Honourable, HENRY Earle of =Holland=, &c._


                       To the MAJESTIE of Great
               _Britaine_, _France_, and _Ireland_, the
                        Most Illustrious King,
                               CHARLES;
                And his excellently beloved, the most
                        gratious _Queene_ MARY.

    Sev’n yeares are full expired, Royall SIR,
    Since last I kneel’d, an offring to preferre
    Before your feete; where, now, my selfe I throw
    To pay once more, the _Tributes_ which I owe.
      _As many yeares are past, most beauteous QVEENE,
    Since witnesses, mine eares and eyes, have beene
    Of those Perfections; which the generall =Fame=
    Hath sounded forth, in honour of your =Name=._
      And, both your _beaming-splendors_ (oh yee faire,
    Thrice blessed, and most fitly-matched PAIRE)
    Vpon each other, make such bright reflections;
    And have so sweetly mingled your _affections_,
    Your _Praise_, your _Pow’re_, your _Vertues_, and your _Beautie_:
    That, (if preserving of my _Soveraigne dutie_,
    This may be said) you doe appeare, to me,
    TWO PERSONS, in One MAIESTY, to be;
    To whom, there, appertaines (in veneration
    Of your large _Worth_) the right of some _Oblation_
    And, best, I thought, my _Homage_ would be done,
    If, thus, the tender were to BOTH-in-ONE.
    Which, in this humble GVIFT, my _Love_ presents;
    And, wisheth it may adde to your Contents.
      Perhaps it shall: For, though I dare not shew
    These _Figures_, as well meriting your view;
    Nor boast, as if their _Moralls_ couched ought,
    By which your sacred _Wisdomes_ may be taught:
    Yet, I have humble _Hopings_, that, they might
    Prove, some way, an occasion of delight;
    Since, meane and common _Objects_, now and then,
    Beget contentments in the _greatest-men_.
      But, that before this _Booke_, I should propose
    Your praisefull NAMES, there is (as I suppose)
    A faire inducement: For, considering these
    Are EMBLEMS, whose intention is to please
    And profit vulgar Iudgements (by the view,
    Of what they ought to follow, or eschew.)
    And, I well knowing, that your MAIESTIES
    Set foorth before my _Booke_, in _Emblem-wise_,
    Throughout your Lands, more _Vertues_ might convay,
    Than many _Volumes_, of these _Emblems_, may;
    It seemed _Petty-treason_, to omit
    This good occasion of endeavouring it.
    For, (if your MAIESTIES, well heeded, were)
    YOV, double-treble-foure-fold _Emblems_ are;
    Which, fully to illustrate, would require
    The _Wit_ I want; or, meanes to raise, that, higher
    Which I have gain’d; (and, which, as yet, hath flowne
    By no incouragements, but by her owne.)
      Of all the _Vertues_ OECONOMICAL,
    Of _Duties_ MORAL and POLITICALL,
    Your _Lives_ are _Patternes_, and faire EMBLEMS; whether
    Considered apart, or both together.
      Your CHILDHOODS were bright _Mirrours_, which did show
    What Duties, _Children_, to their _Parents_ owe:
    And, by the sequele, we now understand,
    That, they who best _obay’d_, can best command.
    The glorious _Vertues_ of your NVPTIALL-_state_,
    Your _Courtiers_, find so hard to imitate,
    That, they admire them, rather; and would sweare,
    (Had others told, what, now they see and heare)
    That, all the former Times, were not acquainted,
    With such a _Paire_, when _Kings_ and _Queenes_ were _Sainted_.
    The chastest _Cupids_, and the gamesom’st _Graces_,
    Are alwaies mingled in your _Deare-embraces_.
    The mutuall enterchanges of your _Loves_,
    May teach affection to the _Turtle-doves_:
    And, such as are, with goodly sights, delighted,
    May see in _You_, all _Excellence_ united.
      You, SIR, who beare _Ioves_ Thunders in your Fist,
    And, (shake this _Ilands_ EMPIRE, when You list)
    Did never in your _Orbe_, a _Tempest_ move,
    But, by the Beautious _Mistresse_ of your _Love_
    It might be calm’d. _And, in your lofty =Spheare=,
    Most lovely QVEENE, Your Motions ever, were
    So smoath, and, so direct; that, none can say,
    They have withdrawne his Royall-heart away
    From Iust =Designes=; Which, loudly speakes your =Praise=,
    And, intimates much more, than, yet, it saies._
      Yea, both Your _Splendors_ doe so glorious growe,
    And, You, each other have out-vyed so,
    In these, and other _Vertues_; that, on You,
    Should I conferre what praise, I thinke, is due,
    My _Lines_, (which from that staine have, yet, beene cleare)
    Would Flatt’ry seeme, unto an envious eare.
      But, what needs _Flatt’ry_, where the _Truth_ may teach
    To praise, beyond immodest _Flatt’ries_ reach?
    Or, what needs he to feare a _sland’rous-mouth_,
    Who seekes no _meed_, nor utters more than Truth?
      Your Princely _Vertues_, what can better show,
    Than _Peace_, and _Plenty_, which have thrived so,
    Whilst You have raign’d that, yet, no people see,
    A _Richer_, or more _Peacefull_ time, than wee?
    Your _Civill Actions_ (to the publike eye)
    Are faire _examples_ of _Moralitie_,
    So manifest; That, if he Truth did sing,
    Who said, _The World doth imitate the King_;
    My _Muses_ dare, with boldnesse to presage,
    A Chast, a Pious, and a Prosperous _Age_:
    And, that, the stormes which, late, these Realmes deterr’d,
    Shall all be quite removed, or deferr’d
    Till you Ascend; And, future times have seene,
    That, your Examples have not followed beene.
      Thus, you are living _Emblems_, to this _Nation_:
    Which being mark’d with heedefull speculation,
    May serve, as well, to helpe us how to see
    Our _Happinesse_, As, what our _Duties_ be.
      And, if I might unlocke all _Mysteries_,
    Which doe declare, how in a _foure-fold-wise_,
    Your Lives are usefull EMBLEMS; I, perchance,
    Should vexe blind _Zeale_, or anger _Ignorance_;
    And, teach well-temper’d _Spirits_, how to see,
    That, we, for Blessings, oft, Vnthankefull be.
    For, as you, _Both_, Prime _Children_ are of those
    Two _Sister-Churches_, betwixt whom, yet, growes
    Vnseemely _strife_; So, _You_, perhaps, may be
    An _Emblem_, how those MOTHERS may agree.
    And, not by your _Example_, onely, show,
    How wrought it may be; but, effect it so.
    Yea, peradventure, GOD, united _You_,
    That, such a blessed VNION might ensue:
    And, that, Your _living-lovingly_, together;
    Your Christian _hopefullnesse_, of one another;
    Your milde _forbearance_, harsh attempts to proove;
    Your _mutuall-waiting_, untill _God_ shall move
    By some _calme-voice_, or peacefull _inspiration_,
    That _Heart_ Which needeth better _Information_;
    And, that, your _Charities_, might give a _signe_,
    How, all the _Daughters_, of the SPOVSE _Divine_
    Might reconciled be; And, shew, that, _Swords_,
    _Flames_, _Threats_, and _Furie_, make no true _Accords_.
      GOD grant a better VNION may appeare:
    Yet, wish I not the _tollerating_, here,
    Of _Politicke-Agreements_; (further than
    Our wholsome _Lawes_, and, _Civill-vowes_ to man,
    With _Piety_, approve) but, such, as may
    Make up a blessed CONCORD, every way:
    Might it be so; your _Vertues_, would become
    A Glorious _Blessing_, to all CHRISTENDOME:
    Your EMBLEM should, by future _Generations_;
    Be plac’d among the famous _Constellations_,
    And, _after-times_ (though