When, thou shalt visit, in the Moneth of _May_, A costly _Garden_, in her best array; And, view the well-grown Trees, the wel-trimm’d Bowers, The Beds of Herbs, the knots of pleasant flowers, With all the deckings, and the fine devices, Perteyning to those earthly _Paradises_, Thou canst not well suppose, one day, or two, Did finish all, which had beene, there, to doe. Nor dost thou, when young Plants, or new-sowne Lands, Doe thirst for needfull Watrings, from thy hands, By _Flood-gates_, let whole Ponds amongst them come; But, them besprinklest, rather, _some_ and _some_; Lest, else, thou marre the _Flowres_, or chill the _Seed_, Or drowne the _Saplings_, which did moysture need. Let this experiment, which, to thy thought, May by this _Emblem_, now perhaps, be brought, Perswade thee to consider, that, no actions, Can come, but by _degrees_, to their perfections; And, teach thee, to allot, for every thing, That _leisurely-proceeding_, which may bring The ripenesse, and the fulnesse, thou expectest: And, though thy _Hopes_, but slowly thou effectest, Discourage not thy selfe; since, oft they prove Most prosperous actions, which at leisure move. By many _drops_, is made a mighty _showre_; And many _minutes_ finish up an _houre_: By _little_, and by _little_, we possesse Assurance of the greatest _Happinesse_. And, oft, by too much _haste_, and, too much _cost_, Great _Wealth_, great _Honours_, and, great _Hopes_, are _lost_. _=Affliction=, doth to many adde More =value=, then, before, they had._ [Illustration: TRIBVLATIO DITAT. ILLVSTR. XLVI. _Book. 2_]