It is by some supposed, that our _Owles_, By Day-time, are no perfect-sighted _Fowles_; And, that, the more you doe augment the _light_, The more you shall deprive them of their _sight_. Nor _Candles_, _Torches_, nor the _Sunne at noone_, Nor _Spectacles_, nor all of these in one Can make an _Owlet_ in the day-time see, Though none, by _night_, hath better eyes than shee. This _Emblem_, therefore, sets their _blindnesse_ forth, Who cannot see, when an apparant _worth_ Illustrates vertuous Men; yet, seeme to spie Those faults, wherewith ill-willers them belie. The _blindnesse_, also, well it may declare, Of _Heretikes_, who Eagle-sighted are, In _Sophistries_, and in the cloudie-night, Of those darke _Errors_, which delude the _sight_; Yet, cannot see the Rayes of _Truth_ divine, Though, brighter than the _Day-light_, shee doth shine. It, likewise, very fitly typifies, Those, in our dayes, who spie out mysteries, Beyond the _Moone_; yet, cannot gain the view Of that, which common _Reason_ proveth true: And, therefore, onely, crie it (madly) downe, Because, by _Reasons_ light, it may be knowne. These, when 'twas offred, first, the light refused; And, they have now the darknesse which they chused. Till, therefore, God shall offer _Grace_ againe, Man strives to set up _Lights_, to these, in vaine: For, what are _Lights_ to those who _blinded_ bee? Or, who so _blinde_, as they that will not see? _None knowes, untill the =Fight= be past, Who shall bee =Victor=, at the last._ [Illustration: INTER UTRUMQUE VOLAT. ILLVSTR. XLVI. _Book. 4_]