Unwise are they that spend their youthfull _Prime_ In Vanities; as if they did suppose That men, at pleasure, might redeeme the _Time_; For, they a faire advantage fondly lose. As ill-advis’d be those, who having lost The first _Occasions_, to _Despairing_ runne: For, _Time_ hath _Revolutions_; and, the most, For their Affaires, have _Seasons_ more, then one. Nor is their Folly small, who much depend On _Transitorie things_, as if their Powre Could bring to passe what should not have an _End_; Or compasse that, which _Time_ will not devoure. The first _Occasions_, therefore, see thou take (Which offred are) to bring thy hopes about; And, minde thou, still, what _Haste_ away they make, Before thy swift-pac’t houres are quite runne out. Yet, if an _Opportunity_ be past, Despaire not thou, as they that hopelesse be; Since, _Time_ may so revolve againe, at last, That _New-Occasions_ may be offred thee. And see, thou trust not on those fading things, Which by thine owne _Endeavours_ thou acquir’st: For, _Time_ (which her owne _Births_ to ruine brings) Will spare, not _thee_, nor ought which thou desir’st. His _Properties_, and _Vses_, what they are, In-vaine observ’d will be, when he is fled: That, they in season, therefore, may appeare, Our _Emblem_, thus, hath him deciphered; _Balde_ save before, and standing on a _Wheele_; A _Razor_ in his Hand, a _Winged-Heele_. _By =Labour=, =Vertue= may be gain’d; By =Vertue=, =Glorie= is attain’d._ [Illustration: LABORE VIRTVS, VIRTVTE GLORIA PARATVR ILLVSTR. V. _Book. 1._]