As soone as our _first Parents_ disobey’d, Forthwith a _Curse_, for their offence, was layd, Inforcing them, and their succeeding race, To get their Food, with sweatings of the Face. But, afterward, this _Doome_ to mitigate, (And ease the miseries of their estate) _God_ gave them _Hope_, that she might helpe them beare The burthens of their Travaile, and their care. A _Woman_ with an _Anchor_, and a _Spade_, An _Emblem_ of that _Mystery_ is made: And, this Estate, wee all continue in, By God’s free _Mercie_, and our proper _Sinne_. By _Sinne_, the _Labour_ is on us intail’d; By _Grace_, it is, that _Hoping_ hath not fail’d; And, if in _Hope_, our Labours wee attend, That _Curse_ will prove a _Blessing_, in the end. My Lot is _Hope_, and _Labour_; and, betweene These _Two_, my Life-time hath prolonged beene: Yet, hitherto, the best of all my _Paine_, With most of all my _Hopes_ have beene in vaine; And to the World-ward, I am like to wast My time in fruitlesse _labours_, till the last. However, I have still my _Hopes_ as faire As hee, that hath no temptings to _Despaire_; And, change I will not, my _last howres_ for theirs, Whose _Fortune_, more desirable appeares; Nor cease to _Hope_ and _Labour_, though, of most, My _Hope_ and _Labour_ be adjudged lost: For, though I lose the _shaddow_ of my _Paines_, The _stubstance_ of it, still, in _God_, remaines. _Man’s life, no =Temper=, more doth blesse, Then =Simple-prudent-harmelessenesse=._ [Illustration: PRUDENTE SIMPLICITATE. ILLVSTR. XVII. _Book. 3_]