XVI. GEFFREY WHITNEY. EMBLEME I. Motto: Te stante virebo. A MIGHTIE spyre, whose toppe dothe pierce the skie, An iuie greene imbraceth rounde about; And while it standes, the same doth bloom on highe, But when it shrinkes, the iuie standes in dowt. The braunche the churche, whoe speakes vnto hir this: "I that of late with stormes was almoste spent, And brused sore with tirants' bluddie bloes, Whome fire and sworde with persecution rent, Am nowe sett free, and ouerlooke my foes: And whiles thou raignst, oh most renowmed queene! By thie supporte my blossome shall be greene." EMBLEME II. Motto: Veritas temporis filia. THREE furies fell, which turne the world to ruthe, Both Enuie, Strife, and Slaunder, heare appeare: In dungeon darke they longe inclosed Truthe; But Time at lengthe did loose his daughter deare, And setts alofte that sacred ladie brighte, Which things longe hidd reueales and bringes to lighte. Thoughe Strife make fier, thoughe Enuie eate hir harte, The innocent though Slaunder rente and spoile; Yet Time will comme, and take this ladie's parte, And breake her bandes, and bring her foes to foile. Dispaire not then, thoughe Truthe be hidden ofte, Bycause at lengthe shee shall bee sett alofte. EMBLEME III. Motto: Non tibi, sed religioni. THE pastors good, that doe gladd tidinges preache, The godlie sorte with reuerence doo imbrace : Though they be men, yet since Godd's worde they teache, Wee honor them, and giue them higheste place: Imbassadors of princes of the earthe Haue royall seates, thoughe base they are by Yet if throwghe pride they doe themselves forgett, And staied therfore till he the staffe did feele. For as he passd with Isis through the streete, Then saide the guide, Oh foole! not vnto thee EMBLEME IV. Motto: Qua dij vocant, eundum. THE trauaylinge man vncertain where to goe We stumble, fall, and dailie goe astraye: EMBLEME V. Motto: Prouidentia. SVCHE prouidence hath nature secret wroughte In creatures wilde, and eeke such knowledge straunge, That man by them in somme thinges maie be taughte: As some foretell when weather faire will chaunge ; Of heate, of raine, of winde, and tempests' rage, Some showe by signes, and with their songs presage. But leauing theise, which almost all doe knowe; Which showes they should with due regarde foresee, When anie one doth take in hande a cause, EMBLEME VI. Motto: Constanter. THE raging sea, that roares with fearefull sounde, And threatneth all the world to ouerflowe, The shore sometimes his billows doth rebounde, Though oft it winnes, and giues the earthe a blowe: Sometimes where shippes did saile, it makes a lande; Sometimes again they saile where townes did stande. So if the Lorde did not his rage restraine, rente; So Sathan stirres with all his maine and mighte Continuall siege our soules to circumuente: Then watche and praie for feare we sleepe in sinne ; For cease our crime, and hee can nothing winne. EMBLEME VII. Motto: Veritas invicta. THOUGHE Sathan striue with all his maine and mighte To hide the truthe, and dimme the lawe deuine; And those that are so happie for to looke, EMBLEME VIII. Motto: Omnis caro fœnum. ALL fleshe is grasse, and witherth like the haie: EMBLEME IX. Motto: Sic probantur. Matt. xxiv. THROUGHE tormentes straunge and persecutions dire The Christians passe with pacience in their paine, And ende their course sometime with sworde and fire, And constant stand, and like to lambes are slaine : Bycause, when all their martirdome is past, They hope to gaine a glorious crowne at last. |