When from the harmelesse _Turtle_, and the _Snake_, Their most commended _properties_ wee take, (And, mixe them well) they make a composition, Which yeelds a _temper_ of the best condition. Yet, _wickednesse_, or _sorrow_, doth abound, Where, any _one_ of these, _alone_, is found: For, whensoe’re the _Serpents-braine_ we find, With which, there is no _Dove-like-meekenesse_ joyn’d, (Without all peradventure) thence proceedes, All harmefull fraud, and all injurious deedes. And, where such _meekenesse_ as doth seeme to be In harmelesse _Doves_, divided you shall see From that _discretion_, and that _policie_, Which in the _Serpents_ head, is thought to lie; They liable to ev’ry wrong become; And, to it selfe, make _Vertue_ burthensome. But, where these two are ioyned, they procure A life so sweet, so rich, and so secure, That, all the pow’rs of _Malice_ cannot shake Their _out-workes_, nor _within_ them, terrors make. _Vouchsafe thou oh my God! vouchsafe, in me, That these two =Vertues= may vnited be. Such =Prudence= give, as never will disdaine The =Dove-like Innocencie=, to retaine. That =meekenesse=, grant me, which delighteth not, It selfe, with =indiscretion=, to besot: But, let these =two=, each other so defend, And, so, in me continue, till my end, That, =simple-prudence=, I may still possesse, Although the World shall count it =foolishnesse=._ _Where er’e we dwell, the =Heav’ns= are neere; Let us but =fly=, and wee are there._ [Illustration: TRANSITUS CELER EST ET AVOLAMUS. ILLVSTR. XVIII. _Book. 3_]