The _Gryphon_, is the figure of a creature, Not found within the Catalogues of _Nature_: But, by those Wits created, who, to shew _Internall_ things, _externall Figures_ drew: The Shape, in which this _Fiction_ they exprest, Was borrow’d from a _Fowle_, and, from a _Beast_; Importing (when their parts were thus combin’d) The _Vertues_, both of _Body_, and of _minde_: And, Men are sayd on _Gryphons_ backes to ride, When those mixt _Vertues_, them have dignify’d. The _Stone_ (this _Brute_ supporting) may expresse The firme abiding, and the solidnesse Of all true _Vertues_. That, long-winged _Ball_, Which doth appeare fast-linked therewithall, The gifts of changing _Fortune_ doth implye: And, all those things together, signifie, That, when by such like _Vertues_ Men are guided, Good _Fortune_ cannot be from them divided. If this be true (as true I this believe) Why should wee murmure, why repine, or grieve, As if our _Studies_, or our honest paines, Deprived were of some deserved gaines? Why should we thinke the world hath done us wrong, Because wee are not register’d among Those thriving men, who purse up evr’y day, For _twelve hours labour_ more then _twelve months pay_? If wee our _paines_ rewarded cannot see, Wee count our _Merits_ greater then they be. But if we bide content, our worth is more; And rich we are, though others think us poore. _When prosperous our =Affaires= doe growe; God’s =Grace= it is, that makes them so._ [Illustration: FLOREBO PROSPICIENTE DEO. ILLVSTR. VI. _Book. 3_]