When, in this _Emblem_ here, observe you shall An _Eaglet_, perched, on a _Winged-ball_ Advanced on an _Altar_; and, have ey’d The _Snakes_, assayling him, on ev’ry side: Me thinkes, by that, you straight should apprehend Their state, whom _Wealth_, and _Vertue_, doe befriend. My Iudgement, by that _Altar-stone_, conceives The sollidnesse, which, true _Religion_ gives; And, that fast-grounded _goodnesse_, which, we see; In grave, and sound _Morality_, to be. The _Flying-ball_, doth, very well, expresse All _Outward-blessings_, and, their _ficklenesse_. Our _Eaglet_, meaneth such _Contemplatives_, As, in this world, doe passe away their lives, By so possessing that which they have got, As if they car’d not, though, they had it not. The _Snakes_, may well resemble those, among them, Who, meerely out of _envie_, seeke to wrong them; And, all these _Figures_ (thus together layd) Doe speake to me, as if these words, they sayd: _That man, who builds upon the best =foundation=, (And spreads the widest wings of =Contemplation=) Whil’st, in the =flesh=, he bides, will need some props of =earthly-fortunes=, to support his =hopes=: And, other-while, those things, may meanes become, The stings of =Envie=, to secure him from._ And, hence, I learne; that, such, as will abide, Against all _Envie_, strongly fortify’d, Must joyne, great _Vertues_, and great _Wealth_, together. _God helpe us, then, =poore-soules=, who scarce have either!_ _=Time=, is a =Fading-flowre=, that’s found Within =Eternities= wide =round=._ [Illustration: ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΚΑΙΡΟΝ. ILLVSTR. XL. _Book. 2_]