God blesse thee, whosoere thou art, And, give thee still an honest heart: For, by the fortune of thy _Lot_, That _Sword_, and _Halter_, thou hast got, Which threatens _death_, with much disgrace; Or, promises the Hang-mans’s place. But, be not griev’d; for, now and than, The _Gallowes_ makes an honest man; And, some, who scape an outward curse, Born in their _lives_ and _deaths_ are worse, See, _Emb._ IV. _M_ 5 Thou would’st be loth, we should suspect, Thou didst not well thy _King_ affect; Or, that, thou should’st be so ingrate, To sleight the welfare of the _State_: Yet, thou, perchance, art one of those, Who _discord_ through the _Kingdome_ sowes. We know not, but if such thou be, Marke, what thine _Emblem_ teaches thee. See, _Emb._ V. 6 In you, a naturall desire Beginnes to blow _Affection’s_ fire; But, by _discretion_, guide the _blast_, Lest, it consume you, at the last; Or, by the fury of the same, Blow out some necessary _Flame_. Yea, that, which doth your _Profit_ breed, May harme you, if you take not heed. See, _Emb._ VI. 7 Be carefull, what you goe about; For, by this _Lot_, there may be doubt, That you, some wickednesse intend, Which will undoe you, in the end. If you have done the _deed_, repent: If purpos’d ill, the same prevent. Else, though in _jest_, this _Counsell_ came, In _earnest_, you may rue the same. See, _Emb._ VII. 8 Thou art afflicted; or, ere long Shalt sing some lamentable Song: And, of those troubles, take some share, Which, thou art very loth to beare. But, be not overmuch dismayd, Nor pine, what ere on thee be layd, For, comfort shall thy joy restore, And, make thee gladder, then before. See, _Emb._ VIII. 9 If this thy _Chance_ hath done thee right, Thou art, or hast beene apt to fight; And, wilt upon occasion small, Beginne, sometimes, a needlesse _brawle_. To shew thee, therefore, thy defect; Or, that thy folly may be check’t, And, fit thy minde for better things, Thine _Emblem_, some good _counsell_ brings. See, _Emb._ IX. 10 What thing soere thou undertak’st, Thou seldome good conclusion mak’st; For, still, when thou hast ought to doe, Thou art too _hasty_, or too _slow_; And, from that equall temper stray’st, By which, thy worke effect thou mayst. To mend this fault thou counsell’d art, Be wiser, therefore, then thou wert. See, _Emb._ X. 11 Thou hast in publicke lived long, And, over freely us’d thy _tongue_; But, if thy safety thou desire, Be _silent_, and, thy selfe _retire_. And, if thou wilt not be undone, Possesse thy _joyes_, and _hopes_, alone: For, they, that will from harmes be free, Must _silent_, and _obscured_, bee. See, _Emb._ XI. 12