The big-bon’d _Oxe_, in pace is very slow, And, in his travaile, _step_ by _step_, doth goe, So leisurely, as if he tir’d had bin, Before his painfull Iourney did beginne; Yet, all the day, he stifly ploddeth on, Vntill the labour of the day be done: And, seemes as fresh (though he his taske hath wrought) As when to worke he first of all was brought. Meane-while, the _Palfray_, which more swiftnesse had, Hath lost his breath, or proves a _Resty-jade_. This _Emblem_, therefore, maketh it appeare, How much it profiteth, to _persevere_; And, what a little _Industry_ will doe, If wee continue _constant_ thereunto. For, meanest _Faculties_, discreetly us’d, May get the start, of nobler _Gifts_, abus’d. This, may obserued be in many a one: For (when their course of life was first begunne) Some, whose refined _wits_, aspi’rd as high, As if above the _Sphæres_, they were to flie: By _Sloth_, or _Pride_, or over-trusting to Their owne Sufficiencies, themselves undoe. Yea and those _forward-wits_, have liv’d to see Themselves inferiours, unto those, to be, Whom, they did in their jollity, contemne, As blocks, or dunces, in respect of them. Then, learne, _Great-wits_, this folly to prevent: Let _Meane-wits_, take from hence, incouragement: And, let us all, in our _Affaires_ proceed, With timely _leisure_, and with comely _speed_. _Vncertaine, =Fortunes= Favours, bee, And, as the =Moone=, so changeth =Shee=._ [Illustration: FORTUNA UT LUNA. ILLVSTR. XL. _Book. 3_]