Who best affect _Inuentions_, which appeare Beyond their understandings; _This_, we knew A _Representment_, worthy of their view; And, here, wee placed it, to be, to these, A FRONTISPIECE, in any sense they please. [Illustration: EMBLEMES. _Illustrated by_ Geo: Wither.] A COLLECTION OF EMBLEMES, ANCIENT AND MODERNE: Quickened With METRICALL ILLVSTRATIONS, both _Morall_ and _Divine_: And disposed into LOTTERIES, That _Jnstruction_, and _Good Counsell_, may bee furthered by an Honest and Pleasant _Recreation_. _By_ GEORGE WITHER. _The First Booke._ [Illustration: Decoration] LONDON, Printed by _A.M._ for _Richard Royston_, and are to be sold at his Shop in _Ivie_-Lane. MDCXXXV. _Recensui hoc Poëma, cui titulus est =(A Collection and Illustration of Emblems Ancient and Moderne)= in quo nihil reperio, quò minus cum utilitate imprimatur, ita tamen, ut si non intra septem menses proximè sequentes Typis mandetur, hæc licentia sit omninò irrita._ Ex ædibus Lambithanis _Iul. 2. 1634._ GVIL. BRAY. A WRIT OF PREVENTION Concerning the AVTHORS _Dedication_ of the foure following BOOKES, to those _Royall_, _Princely_, and _Illustrious_ PERSONAGES, whose Names are mentioned in this _Leafe_. I have not often us’d, with _Epigrames_, Or, with _Inscriptions_ unto many NAMES, To charge my _Bookes_: Nor, had I done it, now, If I, to pay the _Duties_ which I owe, Had other _meanes_; Or, any better Wayes To honour them, whose _Vertue_ merits praise. In _ARCHITECT_, it giveth good content, (And passeth for a praisefull _Ornament_) If, to adorne the _FORE-FRONTS_, _Builders_ reare The _Statues_ of their _Soveraigne-Princes_, there; And, trimme the _Outsides_, of the other SQVARES With _Portraitures_ of some Heroicke PEERES. If, therefore, I (the more to beautifie This _Portion_ of my MVSES _Gallerie_) Doe, here, presume to place, the _NAMES_ of those To whose _Deserts_, my LOVE remembrance owes, I hope ’twill none offend. For, most, who see Their worthy _mention_, in this BOOKE, to bee, Will thinke them honor’d: And, perhaps, it may (To their high praise) be found, another day, That, in these LEAVES their _Names_ wil stand unrac’d, When many fairer _STRVCTVRFS_, are defac’d.